Slip and fall accidents are among the most common causes of injury. These injuries can lead to a loss of work, a decrease in productivity, and a loss of wages. The medical bills that result can carry a huge financial burden for those who have been hurt.
If you’re looking to learn more about slip and fall injuries, these are some of the most common.
1. Hip Fractures
One of the most common slip and fall injuries is hip fractures. These injuries can occur to anyone at any age, but the risk of a hip injury goes up significantly for people over the age of 55.
Hip fractures are also among the most serious kinds of slip and fall injuries due to the fact that they often require surgery or even an artificial hip implant. Recovery time is lengthy compared to other injuries. A broken hip might even require a hospital stay and weeks of rehabilitation.
Hip injuries are also quite painful. Extensive medical care and many medical bills are usually involved. If you’ve been involved in a slip and fall injury due to the negligence of someone else, you should seek legal help and compensation.
2. Slip and Fall Injuries-Head Injuries
If you happen to hit your head while falling, you should see your doctor immediately and have it checked out. Any head injury should be taken seriously. An untreated head injury can lead to serious repercussions that could impact the rest of your life.
If you lose consciousness or experience bleeding or swelling, you should be extra prompt in seeking emergency care. It’s possible that you have a traumatic brain injury or a concussion.
With a head injury, you might only notice minor symptoms at first, which can make it hard to determine the severity of the injury. It’s also possible to sustain brain damage even if your head didn’t strike a surface, but you were jolted or experienced whiplash.
3. Spinal Cord, Neck, and Back Injuries
Many people who experience a slip and fall injury injure their spine, neck, or back in general. The spinal cord and neck are very fragile, and a serious injury can lead to chronic back pain, herniated discs, permanent or temporary paralysis, or a sensory or neurological impairment.
Injury to these areas often calls for extensive medical treatment to get physically back on track. For some, the pain lasts a lifetime, and the damage is permanent. In such a situation, you want to have a good personal injury attorney in your corner.
4. Injuries to the Extremities
During a slip, you’ll likely try to buffer your fall with your hands and feet as you come in contact with the ground. As a result, your hands, feet, legs, and/or arms can experience swelling, fracture, bruising, cuts, or broken bones. You might also experience a sprained wrist or ankle.
Though these injuries aren’t as serious as an injury to the spine or head, it’s still important to seek immediate medical attention. Not doing so can result in a longer recovery process and difficulty connecting your injuries to your accident if you decide to file a lawsuit.
5. Dislocation of the Shoulder
As you fall, you might hit your shoulder on the hard ground, or you might reach out to catch yourself and end up jarring your shoulder region. This can lead to a painful strain or dislocation of the shoulder. In some situations, surgery might be required.
6. General Cuts and Bruises
Many cuts and bruises can occur during a slip and fall injury. Some of these will be obvious, while others occur internally. Even if a cut doesn’t seem serious, a disfigurement of any kind can be examined legally as a loss. It’s important to take pictures of any bruises or cuts that you sustain during a slip and fall in case you decide to file a lawsuit.
7. Elbow or Knee Injuries
Another common injury that results from a slip and fall is damage to the elbow or knee areas. These types of slip and fall injuries can be quite painful. Keep in mind that even if you can still move these joints, you might still have a serious injury on your hand that requires rehabilitation and medical care.
Knee injuries can be complicated, especially if you sustain serious damage to your ACL, which can take a long time to heal. You can also dislocate your patella, which could require a full knee reconstruction at some point.
It’s Important to Seek Help
Medical care for any of these injuries can add up to expensive bills, time off work, an inability to participate in certain activities, or a hit to your quality of life. You should be compensated for these losses if the injury was due to someone else’s neglect. Seek out the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney to learn what you’re entitled to.
Finding the Right Legal Assistance
While slip and fall injuries are common, there are many people who don’t understand what they’re entitled to as a result of their accident.
This is why it’s so important to seek out legal guidance early on. Once too much time has passed, it’s hard to prove that certain injuries are the result of the slip and fall accident.
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall, don’t wait to give us a call. Our experienced legal team has helped many clients receive the compensation they deserve. Contact us today to schedule your free case evaluation.
