One minute, you are minding your own business. The next, you find yourself on the floor in agony. That’s literally how easy it is to have a slip-and-fall accident. No matter who you are, what you are doing or where you are located, the risk of falling is always present.
The number of hospital visits resulting from falls reaches millions every year, with many patients requiring extensive treatment, surgery and physical therapy. Outlined below are some of the more common injuries associated with slip-and-fall accidents.
Broken bones
A fall can put tremendous pressure on different parts of the body — especially the bones. Ankle fractures, broken wrists and injuries to the hips are all common after falling. Broken bones can be especially painful if they result in tissue damage or damage to the nerve cells. Elderly people are particularly at risk from broken hips, and they may never be able to recover their mobility fully after such an injury.
Spinal injuries
During a fall, the spine is exposed. This part of the body hosts numerous nerves that are pivotal to motor function. Nerves can be strained and damaged by direct trauma or lacerations after a slip or fall. The recovery period for spinal injuries can be extended, and damage might even be irrevocable in severe cases.
Traumatic brain injury
The impact of a fall also has the potential to injure the head. It is not uncommon for a person to hit their head on the ground after falling. If the area is sharp, then this can lead to lacerations. Even if the head is bumped on a smooth surface, severe injuries may still occur. In serious instances, a person may lose consciousness and bleeding could be acute. Head trauma can result in traumatic brain injuries (TBI) where recovery times range from a few months to several years. In the most serious cases, TBIs could be permanent.
There is always a risk of falling no matter what you are doing. If you have been harmed during a slip-and-fall accident, you may be able to obtain compensation for your injuries.
