Can eye injuries result from fall accidents?

Yes, eye injuries are a serious type of slip and fall accident injury.

Research Points to Falls as the Number One Cause of Eye Injuries

In November 2015, the American Academy of Ophthalmology held its annual meeting in Las Vegas. During that meeting, new research was presented concerning the cause of eye injuries in the United States.

Approximately 8,400 people were hospitalized in the United States over a ten-year period because of eye injuries sustained in fall accidents. The researchers from Johns Hopkins University analyzed information about 47,000 patients who suffered eye trauma from 2002 to 2011 and found that:

• Over 8,400 people suffered ocular trauma in fall accidents that required hospitalization, making falls the most common cause of eye injuries.
   
• The majority of people who suffered eye injuries in falls and required hospitalization were over the age of 60.
   
• Slipping was the most common cause of fall accidents that resulted in hospitalizations for eye injuries. Approximately 3,000 of the 8,425 people requiring hospitalization for this reason where hurt in slip and fall accidents.
   
• Falling down stairs was the second most common cause of fall accidents that resulted in hospitalizations for eye injuries. Approximately 900 of the 8,425 people requiring hospitalization for this reason were hurt by falling down stairs.

According to CBS News, the study also found that the average cost of treating serious eye injuries rose from $12,430 in 2002 to $20,116 in 2011.

If you or your child has suffered an eye injury in a fall accident, then it is important to know your rights. You may be able to recover for your past, current, and future medical expenses, lost income, out-of-pocket costs, pain, suffering, and other damages if you pursue a legal case against the property owner or manager who knew or should have known about the dangerous condition that led to your fall injury.

To find out more about your rights and how to protect them, please contact our experienced slip and fall lawyers today via this website.