Common Serious Injuries Resulting From Stairway Accidents in Louisiana

Stairway accidents may be minor, but some can cause severe injuries that impact someone for the rest of their life. It’s important to understand the common serious injuries resulting from stairway accidents in Louisiana. Knowing what you can do if you or someone you love were injured because of the carelessness of another party can prove crucial.

You may want to contact a personal injury attorney if you have been injured on stairs. You could be eligible to file a claim to recover your financial damages.

Stairway accidents may result in a premises liability claim, most often a slip-and-fall claim. If you were on someone else’s property and they failed to make sure their premises were safe, you could file this claim. These accidents may also result in a product liability claim if the stairs were poorly constructed. A personal injury attorney can determine if you have the grounds for a claim.

Stairway Accidents Often Cause Falls

Nearly all stairway-related accidents and injuries occur because of falls. While to some, a fall on a stairway may not seem that serious, they have the potential to cause severe, damaging, and even fatal injuries. This is especially true when the injured person is a child or an elderly person.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in 2023, unintentional falls by those 65 and older led to thousands of deaths each month, from 3,118 in one month at the lowest to 3,889 at the highest. There were 1.85 million hospitalizations from unintentional falls by those of all ages in 2023. That same year, there were 6.73 million emergency room visits that did not require longer hospitalization.

In Louisiana, there were 2,077 deaths from falls between 2019 and 2023 among all ages, with those 65 and older having a much higher rate of these fatal injuries. It is important not to take these accidents and injuries lightly.

Types of Injuries Caused by Stairway Falls

The severity of stairway fall injuries depends on the height, the force of the impact, and the surrounding environment where the fall occurs. Some of the most common injuries caused by stair falls include:

• Fractures. Broken bones frequently happen after a fall, often to the wrists or arms, while someone is trying to stop their fall. Fractures can also occur in the legs, hips, or pelvis. While some broken bones are considered more minor injuries, this is not always the case. Falls frequently lead to fatal hip fractures in those 65 and older.
• Sprains, strains, and other soft tissue injuries. Soft tissue injuries cause damage to your muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Sprains, strains, tears, and bruises are common results of falls from stairs. Many people twist an ankle or knee during a fall. Falls can even result in cuts and lacerations, depending on the surrounding environment. These injuries can be serious when the injured party is vulnerable or when they occur to a person’s entire body.
• Traumatic brain injuries. Many head injuries can be caused by stair falls, including concussions or more serious types of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Falls were the cause of nearly half of all TBIs in 2017 that required hospitalization. TBIs can be caused by the brain hitting the inside of the skull or even skull fractures. When these injuries are severe, they can limit someone’s mobility, cognitive abilities, and speech.
• Back injuries. Falls can cause back injuries, including slipped, bulging, and herniated disks in the spine. These injuries can limit someone’s mobility, cause them chronic pain, and affect them for years.
• Spinal cord injuries. Damage to the spinal cord can include the partial or full severing of the spinal cord. This can lead to partial or complete paralysis. Such an injury can alter someone’s entire life and incur significant long-term care costs.
• Facial injuries. Falls can lead to dental and jaw damage, broken noses, and eye injuries.

After a fall involving stairs, it is important to get medical treatment and contact an experienced attorney. While not all stair falls will lead to a claim, it is important to determine if you can recover financial losses like lost income, medical bills, and pain and suffering.