Whether you slip or trip, surprisingly serious injuries can result. While some people may walk away from their falls and simply laugh them off, injuries may disrupt other lives for some time. Common slip and fall injuries follow:
Concussions - A concussion is a form of a traumatic brain injury that can result in many symptoms, including disorientation, headaches, irritability, sensory issues, trouble with cognitive functioning, and more.
Soft tissue injuries - Anytime you twist or stretch your soft tissue in any way, your ligaments, tendons, or muscles can strain, sprain, or even tear. Soft tissue injuries can hurt with surprising intensity and can limit your movement.
Fractures - Any bone that hits the ground or another object when you fall may fracture. Fractures usually require you to refrain from using that body part while it heals and may even require surgery in serious situations.
Contusions - While a bruise may seem like a minor injury, fall victims can suffer serious bruises that require extended recovery periods. Bruised bones can hurt—especially bruised tailbones, which are common for slip and fall victims.
Back and neck injuries - Anyone who has suffered any type of back or neck injury knows how much they hurt. These injuries can prevent you from working—or even walking—until you undergo a course of physical therapy or other necessary treatments.
Spinal cord injury - Trauma to the spine can damage its tissue and disrupt messages sent from your brain, through the spinal cord, to many body parts. When any damage occurs, a victim can lose sensory or motor functioning below the point of injury—sometimes completely and sometimes permanently.
If you feel any pain or soreness after a slip and fall injury, or if you hit your head, always seek medical attention as soon as possible. Get a swift diagnosis and begin necessary treatments for your injuries. These medical records can also help prove your injuries and losses in a subsequent legal claim.
The losses incurred by a slip and fall victim will depend on the seriousness of the injuries and any lasting effects. Common losses include:
Medical expenses - If you received medical treatments in recent years, you know healthcare costs are expensive. Your health insurance—if you have any—may expect you to pay deductibles, copays, or even a significant percentage of your expenses. Many slip and fall victims require emergency department treatments, doctor’s visits, physical therapy, medications, and more. Some injuries may require hospitalization and surgeries, particularly for older slip and fall victims, who may then need to spend time in assisted care facilities. The costs can add up quickly.
Lost income - Many jobs require people to lift or move objects, stand on their feet all day, sit in one place all day, or engage in other physical or laborious activities. Even the slightest injury can often make work difficult and serious injuries may require an extended period away from work. Even if you can still work, you may need to take time off for doctor appointments or rehabilitative therapies. All of this can result in lost income, which can upset your financial situation.
Other damages - Aside from medical bills and lost income, some slip and fall victims with severe injuries may also seek noneconomic damages. These can include physical pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and any permanent disabilities that injuries caused. Lasting injuries can cause a lost enjoyment of life and lost professional and earning opportunities if an impairment prevents someone from returning to work. Hire an attorney who has handled cases involving catastrophic injuries and can calculate these complicated damages.
If you do not believe your slip and fall injuries are that serious at first, you may change your mind as the losses begin to add up, so discuss a possible claim with a slip and fall lawyer as soon as you can after your fall.
