With the festive season fast appearing on the horizon, most of us are already preparing our gifting lists and trying to tick off most of the items before the mayhem starts!

This is a great idea if you hate the holiday crush and the discount sale madness at malls. A leisurely trip to the mall, where you can browse through the available options, and then enjoy a light meal with friends would be the perfect way to get your Christmas shopping done.

However, disaster lurks in the form of slip and fall accidents. Malls are busy places, even on weekdays. Not all of them follow safety standards, nor are many of them senior-friendly. A slip or trip and fall accident could ruin all your plans.

What most of us do following a slip or trip is to glance round hoping that no one has seen us falling so clumsily, then we get to our feet, dust ourselves off and quickly make an exit. It’s only a little later that the aches and pains start, perhaps a swelling, a feeling of disorientation or nausea and then we realize that we have been injured.

Serious injuries may sometimes take a longer time to make themselves felt and if you have an existing health condition, it could compound matters if you don’t seek immediate medical attention. Hence, it’s always a good idea to visit your family doctor without delay if you’ve had a slip and fall accident.

Slip and Fall Injury Facts and Information

Falls are a huge concern for Canadians and obviously for people all over the world. A study conducted by SaferHealthCare Now! Shows that more than 80% of hospitalizations during 2008-9 were fall-related. This figure comprises people aged 65 and older, making them a high-risk population when it comes to falling and injuring themselves.

There are huge physical, financial and emotional burdens placed on the injured person and their families as a result of such falls. They result in hip or skull fractures, making it difficult for the elderly person to live alone and take care of themselves. Falls in younger people result in a variety of injuries ranging from simple cuts, bruises and sprains to severe and traumatic injury to neck, head and spine, facial and dental damage, paralysis and disability, etc.

Accidents are not always “accidental.” They result from someone’s fault or negligence. Sometimes, a breach of safety norms can be intentional to cut costs or avoid expensive replacement of damaged/defective aspects that pose a risk factor.

• Poor lighting
• Slippery, wet floors
• Unmarked elevation changes
• Loose stair-carpeting
• Damaged tiles or flooring
• Uneven ground in parking lots
• Greasy patches
• Lack of warning signs, missing hand-rails
• Debris and clutter
• Packages, trash-cans in corridors and basements
• Loose cables and wires
• Malfunctioning elevators/escalators

and many other potential hazards can endanger your safety in a mall.

Mall-owners and commercial property owners have a responsibility to ensure the safety of all visitors. A Cornwall personal injury lawyer can assist you to get the compensation you deserve following a fall-related injury.