People don’t often think of slip-and-falls as particularly serious. After all, a person only falls a few feet from their standing height to the ground. That is vastly different than falling from the roof of a building or off scaffolding.
However, serious injuries do sometimes follow slip-and-fall incidents. Those who fall at businesses and other facilities open to the public may sometimes have grounds to take legal action or file insurance claims if they sustain serious injuries.
What injuries are possible as a result of a same-level fall?
Broken bones
When people fall, they may injure themselves by bracing or by flailing. They can break an arm by trying to slow the fall or by making accidental contact with items nearby. Fractures typically take weeks to heal and can diminish earning capability. Older adults are especially vulnerable to fractures when they fall.
Soft tissue injuries
The way that people move when they fall can produce soft tissue injuries. They can sustain sprains or strains as they try to avoid the fall. Those injuries can affect their earning potential and may require medical attention for symptom management, even if the injury can resolve without treatment in some cases.
Traumatic brain injuries
When people hit their heads in a fall, the trauma can cause permanent damage to the structure of the brain. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) might necessitate surgery and rehabilitative services. The injured person can develop symptoms that forever change their ability to work.
Seeing a doctor after a slip-and-fall can help people identify problematic injuries and get treatment to improve their prognosis. It may also be necessary to seek compensation from a business or property owner. Documenting the aftermath of a slip-and-fall incident can lead to fewer losses for those injured while shopping or visiting an apartment building.
