Asbury Park Man Falls to His Death

On a worksite, on a playground or around the house, a slip-and-fall can easily lead to serious injury. For a prominent Asbury Park man, a nine-story fall caused death. Jay Bernstein was a well-known local realtor instrumental in supporting his community. He died in November after falling on a windy day from the ninth floor fire escape of his condominium complex, the Santander. While an investigation continues as to why the man, in his sixties, was on the fire escape, the death is considered accidental, with no foul play suspected.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in three people over age 65 fall, sometimes suffering severe injury. Common injuries from a slip, trip or fall include:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Spinal cord injury
• Lacerations and bruising
• Broken bones

With increasing age comes an increased risk of falling. The aging process triggers multiple factors that could lead to a fall, including:

• Postural dizziness. Standing up or otherwise changing positions can lead to instability and a fall.
• Vision problems. Any number of vision issues, from decreased acuity to underlying medical conditions, can cause any adult to misjudge a step and fall.
• Flexibility and strength. With age, muscles stiffen and agility is lost, making it easier to fall.

Owners and operators of property used by others have an obligation to maintain safe properties. In the case of Mr. Bernstein, appropriate safety measures might have saved him from falling to his death.

If injured on the premises of others or after a fall, seek experienced legal counsel in New Jersey.