Certain dangerous incidents do not receive the consideration they deserve. A surprising number of people do not treat slip-and-falls with the respect they deserve. People are often dismissive about same-level falls. They assume that people do not sustain major injuries in slip-and-fall incidents.
Nothing can be further from the truth. In some cases, slip-and-falls can actually prove fatal. They are also a leading cause of work injuries in many industries. People don’t have to fall from a significant elevation to sustain deadly injuries. A same-level fall can cause fatal injuries in rare cases.
Other times, people might incur injuries that generate medical expenses, reduce their income and affect their overall quality of life negatively. The three serious injuries below regularly result from slip-and-fall incidents.
1. Traumatic brain injuries
With the exception of fatal same-level falls, falls that produce brain injuries are often the most devastating. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause permanent changes to the structure of the brain.
When that happens, people experience permanent changes in their health and cognition. If people can’t slow themselves as they fall, they can hit their heads and develop serious injuries because of the blunt force trauma they experience.
2. Soft tissue injuries
There are several ways for people to sustain soft tissue injuries when they fall. In some cases, they might flail around aggressively, causing overexertion injuries to their joints and musculature. They could pinch a nerve or give themselves symptoms that are similar to whiplash.
People can also incur lacerations or strain body parts that they need to use for work during the same-level falls. Soft tissue injuries usually aren’t permanent the way that TBIs are, but they can still lead to significant medical expenses and lost wages.
3. Broken bones.
If people hit the floor hard or strike nearby objects when they fall, they can easily break a bone. Particularly if the person who falls is 50 years of age or older, they may be at elevated risk of a fracture. Broken bones often respond well to medical care but can take months to treat.
If a slip-and-fall is the result of negligent property maintenance, injured people may have reason to take legal action. A premises liability lawsuit can lead to financial compensation for injuries and other expenses associated with a recent slip-and-fall. Realizing that injuries could be serious may help people handle the aftermath of a slip-and-fall incident more effectively.