There’s no such thing as a “simple” fall once people get into their senior years. For one thing, bones are more prone to fracture – especially bones in the ankles and wrists. Additionally, hip fractures can take a particularly long time to heal and lead to serious (and possibly permanent) mobility limitations and even a downward health spiral.
Older people are also more likely to break their spines in a fall – particularly on a hard exterior surface like a sidewalk, walkway, driveway, parking lot or patio/porch area. That’s partly because their spines tend to be stiffer than when they were younger, often due to arthritis and other medical conditions.
Why brain injuries are especially dangerous for seniors
Anyone who strikes their head in a fall on a hard surface like concrete can suffer a potentially fatal traumatic brain injury (TBI). Seniors are more likely than younger people to hit their head when they slip or trip and fall. It’s been found that over 80% of those over 65 who fall suffer a TBI.
These injuries can all-too-easily prove fatal. That was the case for one of the most famous figures in modern journalism, Katharine Graham. The publisher of The Washington Post who was credited with making the paper one of the most respected in the country, died in 2001 after falling on a sidewalk while attending a conference and striking her head. She was 84 at the time.
One reason brain injuries can be more serious in older people is that the human brain physically shrinks with age. Thus, there is more space between the brain and the protective skull around it. That gives the brain more room to move around if a person strikes their head, which can lead to bleeding (commonly a subdural hematoma) and other damage. Further, many older people take blood thinners and anti-inflammatory medications, which can increase bleeding after an injury.
Some outdoor property dangers are preventable
There are a lot of potential dangers when walking in a parking lot or other exterior surface around a business. Property owners can’t ensure that all of these surfaces are in perfect condition and free of debris at all times. However, cracks in the concrete, lack of lighting and other potential dangers that aren’t attended to or at least roped off can amount to negligence.
The best way to determine whether a property owner can be held liable after a trip- or slip-and-fall accident leads to injury or worse is to seek legal guidance.
