They say crime doesn’t pay. For two Philadelphia robbery suspects, it may have even resulted in personal injuries.
According to an NBC 10 report, 1 two criminal suspects were captured taking almost identical tumbles on a Verizon store’s security camera in early January 2017.
Investigators report that the men stole cell phones from the store’s shelves before attempting to flee the store, which appears in the video to have a hardwood floor. As the men tried to run from the store, both slipped and fell within seconds of each other.
Tips to Avoid a Slip and Fall
Philadelphia residents are well aware that winter means ice and snow on the streets and sidewalks. When you enter a store or other building, it’s important to be extra cautious, as floors can often be slippery.
Falls are a serious health hazard around the world. According to the World Health Organization, falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury2 in the world. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that falls are the number one cause of traumatic brain injuries, 3 and one out of five falls causes a serious injury.
An accident can happen regardless of how careful you are, but there are several things you can do to decrease your risk of suffering a slip and fall:
- Choose your footwear carefully — avoid shoes that are ill-fitting or difficult to walk in, especially in ice and snow.
- Slow down — the thieves in the Verizon robbery were obviously in a hurry to flee the scene of the crime, which likely contributed to their slips and falls. Take your time when you walk, and pay attention to your surroundings. Watch for black ice, which can form quickly when temperatures swing from above freezing to freezing.
- Use a flashlight in dark areas — if you can’t see where you’re stepping, you’re more likely to stumble over debris, loose carpeting, or another type of tripping hazard. Reduce your risk of a slip and fall by lighting up your surroundings. Many cell phones have flashlight apps built in. You can also purchase an inexpensive key ring flashlight to use when you have to walk outside in the dark or in a building where there is inadequate or no light.
The High Cost of Slips and Falls
Philadelphia slip and fall lawyer Rand Spear explains, “Slips and falls can result in thousands of dollars in medical bills. The CDC reports that the average slip and fall injury costs over $30,000 in hospital bills alone. Falls also rank among the 20 most expensive medical conditions in the U.S. Other costs associated with slips and falls include lost wages, physical therapy, prescriptions, and mental stress.”
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, you don’t have to face the high cost of a slip and fall injury4 alone. Call Philadelphia and New Jersey slip and fall and personal injury lawyer Rand Spear today at 888-373-4LAW.
Footnotes:
1 NBC 10 Report http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Verizon-Theft-Phones-Slip-Fall-Thieves-Caught-on-Camera-411153115.html
2 Second leading cause of unintentional injury http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs344/en/
3 CDC reports that falls are the number one cause of traumatic brain injuries https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html
4 High cost of a slip and fall injury https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/fallcost.html
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