If you took a fall on someone else’s property, you may have thought you only sustained a minor injury. You might not even have seen a doctor afterward. It was only when the pain persisted that you finally sought medical attention and learned, to your surprise, that the injury was worse than you thought.
Such an event is more common than you might think. Anyone, anywhere, may suffer the consequences of an unexpected slip-and-fall.
The slip-and-fall injury explained
The term “slip-and-fall” is a bit misleading. It is used to describe any circumstance where a person falls on property belonging to someone else. As such, there actually may not be any slip involved. The victim might fall on a stairway due to poor lighting or be tripped up by uneven flooring. Most of these kinds of injuries are caused by negligence on the part of the business or property owner. The victim could fall because of produce spilled at the grocery store or go down because there was no warning sign to indicate a freshly waxed floor.
Typical slip-and-fall injuries
The most common slip-and-fall injuries are broken or sprained arms, wrists, hands and ankles. However, the most severe effects may not be as immediately apparent.
One of the most serious possibilities is head trauma. There might be little outward evidence that this injury exists, so a physician might order diagnostic imaging. A closed head wound can cause the buildup of pressure inside the skull. This could be fatal, but timely surgery can reduce the pressure. Other concerns are spinal cord injuries, which require immediate medical care, and soft tissue injuries, such as tendon or ligament tears that might not show up until weeks after the accident.
Going for legal support
Once you realize what a slip-and-fall injury might mean, seeking medical help should be the first item on your to-do list, followed by contacting an experienced personal injury attorney. The sooner you act, the sooner your attorney can begin seeking fair and just compensation for your injuries.