Massachusetts residents aged 65 or older at risk for falls

On behalf of Aiken and Aiken P.C. Personal Injury Attorneys posted in Premises Liability, on Wednesday, January 28, 2015

In the state of Massachusetts, falls were found to be the leading cause of injuries, both fatal and nonfatal, in people over the age of 65. With the elderly population expected to increase to 20.9 percent in 2030, the negative impacts caused by falls are likely to also increase. By 2020, for example, the national cost of fall-related injuries are expected to reach $54.9 billion. In 2006, it was documented that, in Massachusetts, 36,751 emergency room discharges were associated with fall injuries, and more than 20,000 hospital stays resulted from falls among residents who were at least 65 years old. Additionally, 340 documented fatalities were ultimately caused by a serious fall. In the same year, 16 percent of Massachusetts residents reported suffering from a fall at least once within a three-month period, a trend that was similar to a national report. Of the Massachusetts residents who report a fall, 29.3 percent reported that they suffered injuries as a result. The report also noted that the number of fatal falls among elderly Massachusetts residents increased between 2000 and 2006 by about 122 percent. Most of this documented increase occurred between 2005 and 2006, though it was argued that some of this increase may be attributed to improved identification of the cause of death. It is expected that the number of falls, both fatal and nonfatal, will continue to increase unless strategies to reduce falls are put into place. When an elderly individual becomes involved in a slip-and-fall accident, they are likely to suffer serious injuries that could even become fatal. If the fall was caused by a sidewalk or property that was not properly maintained by the owner, the injured person could hold the owner responsible for premises liability. If the owner is found liable, the injured person may be eligible to seek compensation for their injuries.