How Many Walker, Cane Mishaps Each Year?

Posted on behalf of Jeff Pitman on February 11, 2010 in Nursing Homes and Elder Rights
Updated on April 24, 2024

Would you believe that 47,000 walker accidents happen each year?

According to a federal government study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, more than 47,000 elderly Americans are treated for injuries from falls that involve walkers and canes each year.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 87% of the falls involved walkers, and people 65 and older were seven times more likely to be injured in a walker-related fall than in a cane-related fall.

The study also found:

  • Women sustained 78% of walker-related injuries and 66% of cane-related injuries
  • The risk of falling while using one of these devices increase with age
  • Fractures were the most common type of injury suffered. About 33% of injuries were to the lower trunk, such as the hip or pelvis
  • Most injuries occurred at home
  • Approximately one-third of those injured had to be hospitalized

If you suspect that your loved one has sustained a walker injury while they are under the care of a Wisconsin nursing home facility, that victim may be able to obtain compensation to help in their recovery process. At the law office of PKSD, our team of Milwaukee nursing home abuse lawyers have many years of practice handling nursing home abuse and negligence claims and we have a proven track record of success. For more information and your free consultation, contact a personal injury lawyer at our firm by calling 414-333-3333 or by completing the contact form on this page.

PKSD – Ph: 414-333-3333 .

Back to top