Prevent These 5 Injuries Caused by Water Leaks
National Fix a Leak Week takes place March 17 through 23, 2025. Various environmental and safety organizations use the event to encourage people to check their faucets and pipes for wasteful leaks. The Missouri injury attorneys at Patterson Legal Group recommend that you check your home for water leaks to prevent injuries. Below are five water leak injuries that are easily avoidable, but can result in life-changing injuries.
Why Is Checking for Water Leaks Important?
Leaky faucets and pipes can waste thousands of gallons of water and cost you thousands of dollars. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “The average household’s leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year and ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day.”
Most people have a good understanding of the water-waste aspect of leaks, but many underestimate how dangerous they can be. In addition to posing a danger to the members of your household, guests may suffer water leak-related injuries. This can leave you open to a premises liability lawsuit. Patterson Legal Group hopes that you use the information in this blog to familiarize yourself with various water leak injuries to protect your family and visitors.
Hidden Dangers of Leaky Faucets: More Than Just a Drip
Leaky faucets are often dismissed as minor annoyances, but they can pose serious risks to health, safety, and property. Here are five ways that water leaks can endanger the people living in your home and any guests you host.
- Slip and Fall Hazards: Wet floors from leaks create slippery surfaces, increasing the risk of slips, trips, and falls. These accidents can result in bruises, sprains, fractures, head trauma, or even spinal cord injuries.
- Electrical Hazards: Water and electricity are a deadly combination. Water contacting electrical components can cause shocks or electrocution, resulting in burns, organ damage, or cardiac arrest.
- Structural Damage: Over time, leaks compromise structural integrity. Water seeping into walls, floors, and ceilings causes rot, corrosion, and weakening, potentially leading to collapses and severe injuries from falling debris.
- Mold and Mildew Growth: Persistent moisture fosters mold and mildew growth, releasing spores that trigger allergies (sneezing, coughing, skin rashes) and worsens respiratory conditions like asthma. Prolonged exposure can lead to severe health issues, especially in vulnerable groups.
- Bacteria and Germs: Standing water becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, spreading infections through contact or aerosolization, causing skin, gastrointestinal, and respiratory issues.
It’s easy to dismiss a leaky faucet as a minor inconvenience, but a simple leak can have devastating effects on your health. Patterson Legal Group strongly suggests addressing leaks quickly to protect your household’s health, safety, finances, and peace of mind.
Contact a Missouri Water Leak Injuries Lawyer
The team at Patterson Legal Group hopes that your home is safe and leak-free. Please use Fix a Leak Week to inspect the faucets, spigots, toilets, and pipes in your home. A simple but thorough inspection can go a long way towards keeping your family and guests safe from water leak injuries. Should you suffer a water leak injury caused by another party’s negligence, then contact our Missouri injury lawyers for immediate assistance.
You can reach our Missouri injury attorneys by phone at (888) 687-2400 and online through our encrypted contact form or by connecting with our LiveChat agents. Patterson Legal Group has helped injury victims throughout Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Colorado receive maximum compensation. Our experienced trial lawyers have recovered more than $250-million in settlements for our clients. Reach out to us today and take the first step towards the legal services that you deserve.
