I read an interesting article about fractured hips. Having represented a number of elderly clients over the years who sustained fractured hip injuries in supermarket and fast food restaurant falls, the research did not really surprise me. The premise and conclusion of the article is that, for older patients, the effects of a broken hip may persist for many years after the injury, and may increase the risk of death during that period. The study, first reported in Annals of Internal Medicine, Haentjens P, et al “Meta-analysis: Excess mortality after hip fracture among older women and men” Ann Intern Med 2010; 152: 380-90. This study went on to state that the risk of all-cause mortality is increased between 5 and 8 fold in the first 3 months after the fracture. The risk does drop substantially during the first 2 years after the broken hip, but for up to 10 years he remained significantly higher than among uninjured people. While it has been known for some time that the risk of death in the few months after the fracture occurs is high, there was less research on the long term effects of a broken hip on mortality.While the researchers acknowledge that the study has some limitations, it does stress how life altering a hip fracture can be. Many premises do not carefully maintain a safe walking surface, especially for the elderly, who are more prone to hip fractures when they slip and fall on a hard surface. Restaurants, supermarkets, and especially bathroom areas, can be especially dangerous for the elderly. It does not take much water or other foreign substances to make an already slippery tile or terrazzo floor to become as slippery as ice. When a premises owner does not take proper care of these public areas, the people who generally suffer are the elderly as fractured hips are all too common an occurrence and result. Fixing a fractured hip usually requires major surgery and a long rehabilitation, which is sometimes spent in a nursing home or other less than desirable facility. The medical bills can be exorbitant and the loss in mobility, and thus in the quality of life, can be significant.
If you or a loved one has suffered a hip fracture or any other type of personal injury due to a slip and fall because the premises owner did not take proper care of the public areas, call my office at (407) 423-1313or fill out contact form. Someone will promptly contact you to discuss your potential claim in greater detail. My firm handles Orlando personal injury claims, as well as personal injuries in Winter Park, the Central Florida area and the entire state of Florida. Of course, the consultation is absolutely free and there is never any fee or cost unless a recovery is made for you.
