Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, became an instant celebrity when she married Prince Charles after his divorce from Diana, Princess of Wales. Now, Camilla’s brother, Mark Shand, has died in a freak accident in New York, once again catapulting this woman in to the limelight of public attention.
Mark Shand, 62, is the younger brother of the Duchess of Cornwall and is a travel writer and environmental activist who was visiting New York for a charitable fund-raising event. Mr. Shand slipped on the pavement outside a bar while lighting a cigarette and hit his head. British officials confirmed the death and expressed the sorrow of his family at this tragic event.
Shand was attending a party after an auction in benefit of the Elephant Family, a charity of which he is chairman, when the accident occurred. He had stepped outside the Diamond Horseshoe nightclub at the Paramount Hotel to smoke when he slipped and fell. The Paramount is located on West 46th Street.
Deaths By Accidental Slip and Fall
While the public tends to hear about these types of accidents only when a celebrity or even the relative of a celebrity is involved, the fact is that “freak” slip-and-fall accidents occur every day and many of them do result in serious injury or death.
According to The Brain Injury Institute, about 35 percent of all head injuries are caused by some type of fall. People slip on ice, cracks in sidewalks, water, loose carpets, stairs and other uneven surfaces and fall, hitting their heads in the process. This can lead to serious brain injury or even death, depending on how the fall occurs, how hard the head contacts the surface and even the part of the head involved in the accident.
What Should I Do If I Slip And Fall?
The Fitzgerald Law Firm in New York reminds you that even a “minor” slip-and-fall accident can have serious consequences. In some cases, the victim can break bones, suffer whiplash or soft-tissue industries or even suffer spinal cord or brain damage. The severity of the fall is not judged by how badly the person is hurt initially but how much overall damage is done. Therefore, it is wise to get checked out by a medical professional any time you fall, even if you feel that you are not injured.
The Fitzgerald Law Firm is ready to work with you on your slip-and-fall case.