Slip and falls can happen nearly anywhere — grocery stores, the subway, shopping malls, parking lots, office buildings, and apartment complexes are some common locations. No matter where slip and fall accidents happen, they can cause the victim to suffer severe injuries and financial loss. While a person of any age can be hurt in a slip and fall, children and older adults are often more at risk. Although the facts of every accident are different, here are a few of the most common slip and fall injuries.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Many slip and fall cases involve soft tissue injuries. These can occur when your body abruptly moves, twists, or is jolted resulting in impact to the muscles, ligaments, or tendons so that they tear, stretch, or bruise. Sprains, strains, bursitis, tendonitis, contusions, and stress fractures are routinely seen in slip and fall victims and can cause extreme pain. Doctors prescribe treatment such as physical therapy, use of hot and cold packs, medication, and acupuncture to help resolve these types of injuries.
Spinal Injuries
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, falls are the second leading cause of spinal injuries nationwide, closely following car accidents. In the most severe cases, injury to the spinal cord can cause death. Depending on the spinal cord area that was severed or compressed, spine injuries can range in severity and include:
- Bulges
- Herniations
- Slipped discs
- Compressed discs
- Radiculopathies (nerve damage)
- Paraplegia (paralysis of the lower limbs)
- Quadriplegia (full paralysis)
Slip and fall spinal injuries can permanently affect your ability to perform your job functions. They can also result in a significant amount of medical care as well as costly surgeries and treatments. Physical rehabilitation, expensive medical equipment, and long term care may be needed depending on the severity of the injury.
Brain & Head Trauma
A slip and fall accident often results in head trauma as a result of contacting the ground. The impact can cause a concussion, cracked skull, traumatic brain injuries, and loss of cognitive function. In some cases, you may not know you have a head or brain injury until days after the accident. This is why it’s critical to seek medical attention immediately following an accident — a doctor can run the appropriate tests to determine any brain injury before symptoms arise. Brain injuries that are left untreated can cause seizures, coma, complications, adverse psychological effects, or fatality.
Brain injury symptoms commonly include physical symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, headache, fatigue, and dizziness. However, they can also indicate sensory issues and cognitive impairment such as mood changes, slurred speech, poor coordination, and confusion.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Any bone in the body can be broken or fractured in a slip and fall accident. Hip fractures are among one of the most common fall injuries and they can be particularly serious, especially for older adults. According to the CDC, one-fifth of all falls result in broken bones or head injury, with over 800,000 people being admitted to the hospital, annually, due to a hip fracture or head injury. Older people can also be at increased risk of earlier death as a result of broken bones.
Bones commonly broken as a result of the impact or force of a slip and fall injury can include the ankle, wrist, pelvis, femur, tailbone, kneecap, elbow, or any other bone. In addition, many types of fractures can occur, ranging in severity. Whenever you suspect a bone might be broken or fractured, it’s essential to seek medical attention immediately to avoid complications that could later arise.
Contact an Experienced New York Slip and Fall Attorney
These are only some of the injuries a slip and fall victim may experience. If you or your child slipped and fell as a result of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. The facts and circumstances of every slip and fall case are unique. It’s important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney right away who can protect your rights and inform you of your legal remedies. The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. can help you obtain the maximum compensation for your damages.
The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. has convenient office locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, as well as mobile locations serving Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester, Rockland County, Nassau County, and Suffolk County. Contact us today for a free consultation.