This week 16 to 20 September 2024 is Falls Prevention Week. The main aim of the week raise awareness of the main message - “falls are not a normal part of ageing and most can be prevented”.
Falls are one of the leading causes of injury among older adults. However we see slips, trips and falls across all age ranges. Whilst we’re taking a slightly different look at falls prevention, I would absolutely agree with the message – falls are not a normal part of ageing and we can do more to prevent them.
At Thorntons we deal with a variety of different case types, often including slips, trips and falls. These can range from slips or trips at work, in restaurants or pubs or when walking down the pavement in your local city centre.
Vigilance is important when it comes to preventing falls. Vigilance from the individual but also from the employer, store, restaurant, pub, or council. We all have a duty to watch where we’re placing our feet and not to take obvious or unnecessary risks but falls can still happen. We then look at the cause of those falls. For example, if an individual was to slip on a wet floor in a restaurant – what did the restaurant do to prevent the floor becoming wet in the first place? An establishment would not be expected to keep all floors clear all the time, to do so would be impossible. However, they are expected to be able to evidence that they have acted reasonably in assessing the likely slip, trip or fall risk in their venue. We would expect to see cleaning and inspection documentation as well as appropriate use of wet floor signs and warnings for customers if the area is known to be wet frequently.
Environmental issues can also increase the risk of slips, trips and falls, so it is important to take them into consideration. This could be issues like lighting (natural or otherwise), the weather, humidity, condensation etc. Rain in particular can be the cause of falls. If rainwater gets onto a smooth surface inside or outside of a building, it may create a slip hazard. Good entrance design (eg canopies, door mats) can help prevent falls.
A Defender must “take their victim as they find them”. This means that even if an older adult falls and sustains a more serious injury than a younger adult or child, the Defender cannot argue that this was only because the individual was older. Falls involving older adults can result in serious injuries such as fractures, head trauma, and long-term mobility issues, which can reduce independence and overall quality of life. All injuries and impacts of an accident will be considered by us and fully investigated to assist in the valuation of a claim.
If you or a loved one have suffered an injury as a result of an accident at work in Scotland, please contact Stephanie Watson on 0131 297 5988 or swatson@thorntons-law.co.uk. Alternatively, contact the Personal Injury Team on 0800 731 8434 who will be pleased to assist further or click here for further information.
