Slip and fall accidents occur in enormous numbers every year, and while many people think that a typical slip and fall case involves the proverbial banana peel on the floor, the fact is that slip and fall situations are extremely dangerous and can lead to serious injuries and deaths. While such occurrences can take place anywhere, a study recently published provided statistics regarding one of the most problematic areas that leads to slip and fall injuries - the bathtub.
According to an article published by the Los Angeles Times:
“The bathtub is usually not thought of as a hazard zone. But a study published today in the journal Pediatrics shows that slips and falls in the bathtub cause more than 43,000 injuries to children each year in the United States. Burns from scalding water and drowning can certainly occur in the bathtub, but more than 80% of bathtub injuries involving children are due to slips, trips and falls. The most frequently injured body part is the face, followed by the head or neck. And more than half of the cases involved children age 4 and younger.
The author of the study, Dr. Gary A. Smith from Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, suggests that injuries could be dramatically reduced if people use nonslip mats or coatings in bathtubs and showers. But he adds that bathtub safety products should be reevaluated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to increase the slip-resistance requirements. The current method for evaluating bath safety products is “arbitrary” and “clearly flawed,” the report said.”
As can be seen, there are several flaws with the typical bathtub setup. Even products that are meant to prevent these situations do not appear to be performing at a proper level. If you or someone you love has been injured in a slip and fall due to faulty safety products or an improperly maintained bathtub, you need to contact the slip and fall lawyers at the Phillips National Injury Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.
Tue, Jul 28, 2009
Slip and Fall