The head and limbs are particularly vulnerable to harm in a slip-and-fall accident.
Summary
- In a slip-and-fall accident, common injuries include brain injuries, damage to the hips, back, and neck, and fractured or broken bones.
- Slip-and-fall accident injuries can occur when a person overlooks a hazard like a wet floor or loose step.
- A property owner who fails to address a dangerous walking condition that causes a slip-and-fall accident can be held liable for damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
- Slip-and-fall accident attorneys can connect the property owner’s negligence to your injuries and resulting damages.
Slip-and-fall accidents can occur anywhere, including work, school, a friend’s house, or a restaurant. An obstacle or an issue with a walking area can cause a person to fall from a loss of balance. These types of accidents can expose a person to significant injury, as they can fall on the hard floor and cause injuries to their head, neck, shoulders, arms, and face.
If you suffered a severe injury from a slip-and-fall accident, our team can help you file a slip-and-fall accident claim to hold a property owner accountable for the negligence that led to the accident.
Our team of seasoned slip-and-fall accident lawyers here at Sand Law can assist you with your claim. We will assess the current and future cost of your damages, determine the at-fault party, and obtain evidence to prove their liability. Schedule a free consultation with us today by calling (701) 394-3912 or reach out through our website.
What Causes Common Slip and Fall Accident Injuries?
One of the major types of personal injury accidents that can lead to serious or even catastrophic injuries is slip-and-fall accidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in every five slip-and-fall accidents results in severe injury.
Every year, at least three million people report to an emergency department for treatment for a fall injury, with 800,000 patients per year hospitalized due to slip-and-fall accidents.
These types of accidents can result from obstacles in a property that are unavoidable or unmarked by caution signs. A person walking around a property may be unaware of the obstacle and unintentionally slip as a result of the negligence of the property owner. These accidents can occur inside or outside.
The following are some of the common hazards that cause slip-and-fall accidents:
- Wet floors without a proper wet floor sign
- Uneven surfaces
- Loose flooring or tiles
- Missing steps
- Exposed cords and wires
- Parking lot potholes
- Unsalted ice
- Elevated surface without a railing
- Poor lighting
Traumatic Brain Injuries Caused by Slip and Fall Accidents
One of the most common types of injuries caused by a slip-and-fall accident is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). In most cases, slipping due to something like a wet floor will cause the person to fall backward, with nothing to protect their head from colliding with the hard floor.
Direct impact to the head from a hard surface can result in damage to the brain that can cause a traumatic brain injury. A TBI is an injury that affects how the brain works due to damage from a violent blow to the head.
It is a term that can encompass a broad swath of brain injuries, such as concussions, contusions, hemorrhages, and hematomas.
A traumatic brain injury often leads to health complications that can dramatically alter a person’s life, such as:
- Memory loss
- Loss of motor functioning
- Judgment problems
- Problems swallowing
- Poor coordination
- Changes to the senses (hearing, vision, taste, smell, and touch)
- Communication problems
Traumatic brain injuries can be fatal or leave survivors with permanent disabilities.
Common Slip and Fall Accident Injuries Include Broken Bones
A slip-and-fall accident can also result in broken bones when someone slips and falls directly on a body part. For example, a person can be walking around a restaurant when they slip on some spilled ice. They could slip onto their side, with their left arm taking the brunt of the impact.
The direct impact on their left arm hitting a hard floor can cause them to suffer a broken left arm. Broken bones are a serious injury caused by slip-and-fall accidents because they can make it so an important body part doesn’t operate properly.
In the above example, a person who suffered a broken arm will not be able to use their arm and hand for tasks such as driving, picking something up, or gripping an object. A slip-and-fall accident that causes a broken bone, such as in the arm, shoulder, leg, or knee, can cause intense pain, swelling, bruising, bleeding, and lack of mobility.
Slip and Fall Accidents Are a Primary Cause of Hip Fractures
A common type of bone fracture that can occur during a slip-and-fall accident is a hip fracture. Fall accidents are responsible for 95% of hip fractures that take place. It is an injury that occurs when impact, pressure, and trauma cause a partial or complete break of the femur where it meets the pelvic bone.
A hip fracture can result in hip and lower back pain, muscle strain, swelling, and an inability to stand or walk. Hip fractures can affect a person’s mobility, requiring them to stay stationary as they recover from the damage.
This can affect their wages, as they may be unable to commute to work or complete the tasks required while on the job. It can also cause pain and suffering, as moving the hip and leg can result in shooting pain that can affect you throughout the day. Meanwhile, your personal injury damages pile up.
Back and Neck Injuries Caused by Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents can result in a person falling backward, with the back and neck receiving the brunt of the impact of the fall. A back and neck injury can result from the trauma to the back and neck caused by direct impact with a hard floor. These types of injuries can be crippling for a person, resulting in majorly reduced mobility in the upper body.
A back and neck injury from a slip-and-fall accident can cause significant symptoms that can affect a person’s quality of life. For example, they may suffer from sharp pain in the back and neck, spine stiffness, leg numbness, loss of bladder control, and headaches.
These types of injuries can take a long time to recover from, with medication, physical therapy, and surgery possibly being necessary for proper treatment. The process of healing from a back and neck injury can take several months, and a complete recovery is not guaranteed.
Slip and Fall Victims Can Benefit From Legal Support as They Pursue Compensation for Injuries
Personal injury claims involving slip-and-fall accidents can be complicated. You will need to find concrete evidence connecting the property owner’s negligence to your slip-and-fall accident. The following are some of the ways a slip-and-fall accident lawyer can help with your claim:
- Calculate your current and future slip-and-fall accident damages
- Determine the party at fault for the obstacle that caused the slip-and-fall accident
- Explain your rights
- Collect evidence to prove the at-fault party’s liability
- Depose expert witnesses that can strengthen your case
- Negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance company
- Represent you in a slip-and-fall accident court case
Whatever comes next, you need a representative you can trust to stand for you.
Contact the North Dakota Slip and Fall Injury Lawyers of Sand About Your Case
At Sand Law, we believe that experience is valuable. Our decades of service as personal injury lawyers can be an incredible asset to your slip-and-fall accident claim. We will go above and beyond to recover maximum compensation for your slip-and-fall accident injuries. With the right team on your side, you can begin to move on from the incident.
Our slip-and-fall accident attorneys can use their experience to help hold a property owner accountable for their negligence in your case. Schedule a free consultation with us today by calling (701) 394-3912 or reach out through our website.