Among the many injuries individuals can suffer in a slip-and-fall accident, hip fractures are some of the more common. In fact, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, roughly 300,000 Americans sustain hip fractures every year. Broken hips happen most frequently to those over the age of 65.
For seniors, a broken hip is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. Even with quick medical care, though, broken hips are often deadly for older individuals. Indeed, according to reporting from CNN, one-third of those over the age of 50 who break a hip die within a year.
Complications from surgery
Many seniors who suffer hip fractures require surgery to repair the damage. Hip surgery is not a minor procedure, as those who undergo it typically require general anesthesia. Along with the complications that might arise from anesthesia, patients can be vulnerable to infection, blood clots and other deadly surgical complications.
Complications from comorbidities
It is not uncommon for individuals who have hip fractures also to have comorbidities, such as high blood pressure or heart disease. These comorbidities can lengthen and complicate a person’s recovery. Moreover, due to fracture-related mobility problems, comorbidities can worsen as an individual recuperates.
To reduce a person’s probability of dying from a hip fracture after a slip-and-fall accident, it may be necessary to arrange for round-the-clock care. This care can be expensive, however. Ultimately, by pursuing financial compensation for a hip fracture, an individual might have the resources he or she needs to survive the injury.