Hip Fracture from Slip and Fall: Premises Liability Claims for Elderly Victims

## Hip Fractures: A Devastating Consequence of Premises Negligence

Hip fractures are one of the most catastrophic outcomes of slip and fall accidents, particularly for elderly individuals over 65. A fractured hip typically requires surgical intervention — either repair or hip replacement — followed by months of rehabilitation. For many older victims, a hip fracture marks a turning point that leads to permanent loss of independence, long-term care facility placement, and significantly shortened life expectancy.

Studies show that up to 25% of elderly patients who suffer a hip fracture die within one year of the injury — underscoring the life-altering severity of these premises liability cases.

Legal Considerations in Elderly Slip and Fall Hip Fracture Claims

Hip fracture premises liability cases involving elderly victims require sensitive handling and specific legal expertise to maximize the compensation available to victims and their families.

• Medical causation: Establish clearly that the fall — caused by the property owner's negligence — was the direct cause of the fracture, not an underlying medical condition
• Osteoporosis defense: Property owners often argue that pre-existing osteoporosis caused the fracture, not the fall. Under the eggshell plaintiff doctrine, they remain liable even if pre-existing bone density issues made the fracture worse or more likely
• Long-term care costs: Hip fracture recovery may involve extended rehabilitation facility stays, in-home nursing care, physical therapy, and permanent assistive devices — all recoverable economic damages
• Quality of life impact: Loss of mobility, independence, and the ability to participate in cherished activities are significant non-economic damages that demand full compensation
• Wrongful death: When a hip fracture-related complication leads to death — through post-surgical complications, pulmonary embolism, or infection — surviving family members may pursue wrongful death claims against the property owner
• Family member involvement: Adult children and spouses often suffer their own losses — sometimes recoverable as loss of consortium — when an elderly loved one is seriously injured

Compassionate, experienced premises liability attorneys handle these sensitive cases with the dignity and urgency they deserve.