Slip and Fall Statistics: 2026 Report

From January through November 2025, our research team compiled national data on slip and fall incidents affecting individuals across the United States. 

This report aggregates information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Safety Council (NSC), Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and emergency department records nationwide. The dataset encompasses both fatal and non-fatal injuries across all age groups, property types, and environmental conditions.

Key Takeaways:

• Over 14 million older adults experience slip and fall accidents annually, with falls causing 47,026 deaths in 2023.
• Wet or slippery floors account for 55% of all slip and fall incidents across residential and commercial properties.
• Fall-related injuries cost the U.S. healthcare system over $50 billion annually, with workplace falls alone costing businesses $10.5 billion per year.

Key Insights:

• Slip and fall accidents represent the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death in the United States, following poisoning and drug overdose.
• The fall death rate among older adults has increased 41% since 2012, rising from 55.3 per 100,000 to 78.0 per 100,000 in 2021.
• Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries across all age groups, accounting for nearly 800,000 TBI cases annually.
• Approximately 37% of individuals who fall report an injury severe enough to require medical treatment or restrict activity for at least one day, resulting in an estimated 9 million fall injuries requiring medical intervention.

Key Insights:

• Environmental hazards account for the overwhelming majority of slip and fall accidents, with wet or slippery floors representing more than half of all incidents.
• Weather-related falls show distinct seasonal patterns, with regions experiencing freezing conditions reporting fall rates three times higher than areas with milder climates.
• Nearly 11,000 slip and fall accidents occur daily in restaurants alone, totaling approximately 4 million incidents annually in food service establishments.
• Poor lighting conditions compound other hazards, increasing fall risk by impairing individuals’ ability to identify uneven surfaces, obstacles, or changes in elevation.

Key Insights:

• Age represents the most significant risk factor for serious fall injuries, with fall rates and severity increasing progressively across age groups.
• Adults aged 85 and older face a fatal fall rate nearly seven times higher than adults aged 65-74, at 245.6 deaths per 100,000 population.
• Women experience higher fracture rates than men in fall accidents, primarily due to differences in bone density and increased prevalence of osteoporosis.
• One in four adults aged 65 and older falls each year, making falls the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries in this demographic.

Key Insights:

• Falls on the same level represent the second most expensive workplace injury category, costing U.S. businesses $10.5 billion annually.
• Approximately 22% of workplace slip and fall injuries result in workers missing more than one month of work, creating significant productivity losses.
• The construction industry experiences fall-related injuries at a rate more than seven times higher than other industries, with 885 workplace fall deaths recorded in 2023.
• Falls rank fifth among 155+ health conditions in terms of overall economic burden to healthcare systems, with costs increasing 60% since 2000.