6 of the Most Common Slip and Fall Injuries
Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common types of accident to cause injury. Slip and Fall accidents can cause some pretty serious injuries. These kinds of accidents can happen anywhere, but most commonly they happen from slippery surfaces, uneven ground, or objects that are hidden that could cause you to trip. More often than not, if you slip and fall you will not get injured. At least not more than maybe a sore hip or arm. However, when an injury does occur, it can be very serious.
What Kind of Negligence Can Lead to Slip and Fall Injuries
Although every case is somewhat unique, most slip and fall accidents are caused by the negligence of property owners, construction companies, third-party contractors, restaurant owners, cleaning companies, and grocery store owners. These property owners, business owners, and others have a duty to provide a safe area for their guests and customers. If they fail to do so, and you receive an injury from your fall, they could be held liable.
Common acts of negligence include:
- Unattended liquids spilled
- Recently mopped floors with no warning signs
- Poorly maintained staircases
- Slick walkways and surfaces from rain or snow
- Poorly maintained staircases
- Loose cables across a walkway
- Neglect to warn visitors from foreseeable dangerous conditions
When you are visiting someone else’s home or business, you have a duty to be aware of your surroundings. But, if one or more of the common acts of negligence mentioned above causes you to fall and injure yourself, you could have a reason to file a personal injury claim.
Common Slip and Fall Injuries
As a fall occurs, your body naturally releases a surge of adrenaline when you first start to lose control and you begin to panic. Once the fall begins, your body will brace itself for impact by tensing your muscles and extending your arms. While your body does its best to help cushion the impact from your fall, your brain will prepare itself for the neurological and physiological reactions that are about to occur. With that said, sometimes when you fall you may have what is called delayed injuries. Because your body naturally tries to protect itself, these injuries may not seem extreme right away. Either way, it is important to get checked out by your doctor as soon as possible, and if you have injuries that start to appear later, it is extremely important to follow up with your doctor.
Torn Ligaments, Tendons and Muscles
Torn ligaments, tendons and muscles often are a result of a person exerting themselves in an attempt to stop the fall. These types of slip and fall injuries are extremely painful injuries and often require surgery and years of physical therapy. With torn ligaments, tendons or muscles there will not only be physical recovery, but your medical bills will start to pile up. You should not have to worry about financially recovering in addition to physical recovery. Filing a personal injury claim is important to be compensated for your damages, both physical and financial. A Los Angeles personal injury lawyer like the ones at B|B Law Group can help you navigate the complexities of a personal injury claim.
Broken Bones
Bone fractures happen when the force of the impact breaks a bone in a person’s arms or legs. Adults above the age of 55 are particularly susceptible to broke bones, because as people age their bones become more brittle. With broken bone injuries, they usually require surgeries and have a long recovery period of being in a cast. Casts sometimes have to be worn for months and can limit someone’s ability to function in their daily lives. In addition to the physical recovery while in a cast post surgery, often times, broken bones come with chronic pain. Chronic pain can last for years and be very debilitating to live with. If you have a broken bone after a slip and fall accident on a public property, it is important that you contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
Broken Hips or Pelvis
A broken hip or pelvis is another common injury in slip and fall accidents. Broken hips and pelvis bones are a common injuries found in senior citizens after a fall. However, the impact of a fall can lead to hip or pelvis fractures in anyone. Hip and pelvis fractures almost always require surgery. They can be incredibly painful and require a long recovery period. In many cases a broken hip or pelvis can permanently impact a person’s mobility.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Sometimes when a person falls and hits the ground with their back they can cause spinal cord injuries. There are a number of spinal cord injuries that can happen, for example, slipped discs, hernias or even paralysis. Spinal cord injuries are notoriously difficult to treat and cause severe chronic pain. They can also cause loss of mobility, muscle spasms, and fatigue.
Shoulder or Neck Injuries
If you have slipped and fell and landed on your shoulder or neck from a fall, it is likely that it has caused muscle sprains, or even worse spinal injuries. Shoulder injuries from falls usually result in shoulder dislocation, torn nerves, or collarbone breaks. Even minor neck and shoulder injuries are incredibly painful and often require surgery.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic Brain Injury (or TBIs) happen when a person hits their head while falling. TBIs can range from minor injuries like small concussions, bumps and bruises to major injuries like skull fractures, hematomas and hemorrhaging. Brain injuries can severely impact brain function and cause seizures and sometimes loss of bodily control.
Slip and Fall Injuries Can Be Very Serious
As you can see from the information above, slip and fall injuries can be very serious. They can result in long term treatment that turns out to be very costly. You should not take your injuries lightly, and it is always important to seek medical attention as soon as possible after your slip and fall accident. If you remember, make sure to take photos or get witness testimonial from your fall. If you didn’t get photos right away, It is important to go back or send someone as soon as possible to document evidence from your fall.
Contact a Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, you need to seek compensation from the liable parties immediately to pay for the long term costs of treating your injuries. B|B Law Group has a team of experienced Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorneys that are ready to help. We can help you document your injury, prove fault, and negotiate a fair settlement to pay for your medical treatments. So if you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident, contact us today for a free consultation to see how we can help you.
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