( 300+)A slip and fall is a common accident. Many hazards can upend even a careful person, including water or trash on the ground. When the property owner has failed to keep the premises reasonably safe, injured victims can seek financial compensation for their injuries and related losses.
Below, we look at the most common injuries from slip and fall accidents and provide tips for how to build a strong injury claim. Contact our firm to speak with a Greenville slip and fall lawyer in a free consultation.
What Are the Most Common Injuries from Slip and Fall Accidents?
Pedestrians who slip can be hurt when they try to prevent a fall or when they strike the ground.
Some of the most common slip and fall injuries include the following.
Concussion
A concussion is a relatively mild traumatic brain injury. Many people suffer concussions when they are unable to extend their arms to break a fall or strike their head on the side of a table.
Concussions have common symptoms:
- Dizziness
- Blurry vision
- Difficulty speaking
- Memory loss
- Impaired balance
- Loss of coordination
- Headaches
Concussions vary in terms of the duration of symptoms. Some people will heal with sufficient rest after a few months, while others will struggle with post-concussion syndrome for years.
Treat this injury seriously. A second concussion so soon after the first might be deadly or lead to permanent disabilities.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Traumatic blows to the body lead to:
- Contusions. A contusion is a deep bruise caused by trauma. Although not the most serious injury, a contusion can cut off circulation to affected body parts and take time to heal.
- Sprains. A sprain involves stretching or tearing of ligaments, which connect bones to each other. A knee or back sprain is a common injury in a fall.
- Strains. Tendons and muscles can be stretched or torn in a slip and fall accident. You will likely notice pain and swelling, which can make daily activities difficult. Like a sprain, a strain will respond to rest, icing, and elevation. But very serious injuries are disabling.
- Nerve damage. Stretching and pounding can damage nerves, at least temporarily. You might notice tingling or numbness in your arms or hand, which could stem from damage to the brachial plexus nerves.
Soft tissue injuries typically require rest so the body can heal itself. However, some injuries require surgery.
Whiplash
Whiplash involves injury to the soft tissues in a person’s neck and shoulders. Any extreme motion can stretch or tear the muscles and ligaments, leading to swelling and pain.
The most common symptom is neck stiffness, which develops a day or two after the accident. Pain can be so intense that a person cannot move their head or tip their chin up or down. There is no easy cure, although a doctor can help you manage pain and other symptoms, such as disrupted sleep schedule. Over time, your medical team will focus on slowly reintroducing a full range of movement.
Whiplash is one of the most common slip-and-fall injuries, and we encourage you to go see a doctor if you notice any stiffness in your neck.
Back Injuries
Back injuries from slip and fall accidents run the gamut from relatively mild to catastrophic:
- Back sprain. You can sprain your back trying to maintain your balance.
- Disc damage. The rubbery discs in between the vertebrae can be damaged or shoved out of alignment.
- Vertebral fracture. The vertebrae can crack when a person lands after falling.
- Spinal stenosis. Trauma can also cause a narrowing of the spinal channel.
These are only some of the most common back injuries. If you notice any pain in your upper or lower back, head to your doctor’s office.
Broken Bones
Many victims break one or more bones when falling:
- Arm
- Leg
- Hip
- Rib
- Skull
Recovering from a fracture depends on the victim’s age and overall health. An elderly person could struggle with life-threatening complications from a fracture, such as a rib fracture which impacts their ability to take a deep breath.
Shoulder Injuries
Many slip and fall victims land on a shoulder, which can suffer a dislocation or fracture. A person might also damage the muscles around the shoulder, which provide stability to the joint. This type of rotator cuff injury can be hard to treat.
Shoulder injuries often prevent people from going back to work, especially if they need to reach above their head.
How to Document Your Injuries
Obtaining compensation is a lengthy process. Generally, any slip and fall victim can hold the property owner accountable when the owner failed to fix a hazard or at least warn visitors so they can protect themselves.
Documenting your injuries is an important step in the claims process. This documentation will help prove that you were seriously hurt and deserve compensation.
We recommend the following:
- Receive treatment soon after the accident. You should probably go as soon as you leave the scene of the accident. Early treatment will document your injuries and improve health outcomes.
- Take photos of any injuries. You should get pictures of dramatic bruises, cuts, or bleeding.
- Keep medical bills and insurance statements. You can help prove how much the accident cost you.
- Document your pain and loss of enjoyment of life. South Carolina law empowers victims to seek compensation for non-economic damages like pain and depression. We recommend keeping a journal where you record how you feel every day after the fall.
- Consult a slip and fall lawyer in Greenville. You will need help building the legal case for compensation. Property owners do not guarantee their visitors will never be hurt, so we need to prove they owed you a duty of care. Elliott Frazier — Family, Personal Injury, & Car Accident Attorneys, LLC can help establish liability.
Speak with an Experienced Greenville Slip and Fall Attorney
We have years of experience in personal injury cases and can guide you through the claims process.
We have won many settlements for fall victims suffering a variety of injuries. Contact us today to schedule a meeting with our law firm.
