In 2017, over 8.6 million people went to the emergency room for injuries resulting from a slip and fall accident. According to the CDC, the average cost of going to the hospital and treating these slip-and-fall injuries averages out at over $30,000 in medical bills and expenses. In this article, we’ll review some of the most common injuries reported from slips, trips, and falls.
Back Pain and Spinal Cord Injuries
Back pain resulting from a slip-and-fall has the potential to be very serious and should not be ignored. Your back muscles and spine work together to provide mobility and strength to the rest of your body. Without them, you would not be able to stand up or move around. An accidental fall due to a slippery or uneven surface can strain and limit the flexibility of your back. Back pain and tightness can affect every aspect of your day-to-day life—from working to driving to spending time with your family and loved ones. In more serious slip and fall accidents, trauma to the spinal cord (the column of nerve endings connecting your brain to the rest of your body) can result in paralysis and other life-altering injuries below the site of impact.
Head Injury and Trauma
Common head injuries resulting from a slip and fall include scalp wounds, skull fractures, and concussions. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can lead to severe and sometimes fatal physical and psychological symptoms. Research suggests that people who have suffered from TBIs are more likely to suffer from neurodegenerative brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Dementia. We recommend seeking immediate emergency medical care if you experience any TBI symptoms following a slip and fall accident.
Neck Pain and Stiffness
Another common injury reported after a slip and fall involves pain and stiffness to the neck and shoulders. Injuries to this part of the body can affect either or both the nervous system and soft tissue (consisting of the muscles and tendons). The impact from a slip and fall can force the neck to rapidly extend back and forth beyond its normal range, or whiplash. In addition to pain, swelling, and overall reduced mobility, whiplash can lead to disturbed sleep, increased irritability, tingling down the arms and legs, and generalized feelings of pain to the body.
Broken Bones and Soft Tissue Damage
Although the bones in your body are mostly rigid, they will bend slightly when acted upon by an outside force. However, when this force is more than the bone can withstand, the bone will fracture and break. Fractures of the wrist, ankle, and hip are some of the most commonly reported broken bones resulting from a slip and fall accident. In many cases, the ligaments in your ankles and wrists may also tear during a fall. This soft tissue damage (or sprain) takes a long time to heal because your ligaments do not receive as much blood as the rest of the body. Depending on the location of the torn ligament, you may need surgery and physical therapy to regain strength and mobility. For the average American, the medical bills posed by both surgery and rehabilitation pose a significant financial burden.
If you or a loved one has suffered in a slip-and-fall accident, you may have a legal claim to compensation for your injuries. Over 50% of reported slip and fall injuries are caused by hazardous conditions and poor floor maintenance. Therefore, if you have sustained an injury from a slip, trip, or fall due to the hazardous conditions of another person’s property, under personal injury law, you are entitled to compensation. For expert legal advice and services in the Fort Lauderdale Area, visit https://www.yourfightourbattle.com/ today. The personal injury lawyers at Friedland & Associates will examine the circumstances of your slip-and-fall accident and help you achieve the compensation you rightly deserve.
