Most Common Injuries for a Slip and Fall - What to Know

One doesn't have to be careless or clumsy to deal with a slip-and-fall accident. It can happen to anyone, which may lead to serious injuries.

If one falls on someone else's property or while at work, they could be entitled to compensation based on the bodily or head injuries they experience. However, the victim must prove that the other party was responsible because they knew of a hazardous condition and didn't correct it.

Because slip-and-fall accidents often lead to physical therapy and long-term care, it's crucial to see a doctor immediately and focus on healing. Then, one should contact a lawyer for financial compensation. They can also share insight on common injuries in a construction accident. Learn more below.

Do Slip-and-Fall Accidents Happen Often?

Many times, slip-and-fall accidents don't do much damage. That victim might suffer from a bruised ego and experience some embarrassment. However, millions of people each year develop a serious injury and must go to the emergency room.

Roughly 25 percent of people over 65 years old slip and fall every year. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) claims that over 800,000 of those must stay in the hospital because of injuries from the accident.

Medical costs are often expensive after a slip and fall because the injuries caused can be severe. Plus, the elderly are generally fragile, weaker, and unable to brace for impact.

Common Types of Fall Accidents

Slip-and-fall accidents typically occur in the workplace or at home. Roughly 75 percent of them happen in or around the house. Likewise, falling contributes to about half of the accidental deaths occurring on a property. Drowning, choking, and fire-related injuries aren't as prevalent as falls.

The bedroom and living room are the most common places for people to fall in the house. Those falling off ladders often do so in the home instead of in the workplace. However, people generally slip on a wet and level surface more frequently.

Over 5,000 people get treated in the emergency room each year because of injuries caused by tripping on loose throw rugs and carpets in the house.

Here are a few common types of falls that may happen:

Trip and Falls

Someone might trip over an item, such as a foreign object on the floor, uneven pavement, or a rug. This can cause them to fall forward. While they might brace for the impact, they could hurt their shoulders, arms, wrists, hands, and fingers. If they cannot catch themselves, they may strike their head or face, which results in severe injuries.

Slip and Falls

A slip-and-fall accident often happens when someone walks down a steep hill or on an icy or wet surface. Their feet go out from under them, and they shift backward. That can lead to a severe head injury.

Falling backward can happen without warning, so it's difficult and awkward to brace with the arms and body. These slip-and-fall injuries are often more severe and can include damage to the head, neck, or back.

Dead Falls or Collapses

Collapsing means that a person falls without moving backward or forward. Their knees might buckle, and they cannot keep themselves upright. This happens from:

• Being intoxicated

• Taking medications that make one dizzy or drowsy

• Having weak leg muscles

• A loss of balance

• Lightheadedness or dizziness

• Blacking out, fainting, and losing consciousness

If someone collapses, they could hurt their head, shoulders, hips, and knees. Typically, this type of accident is not considered negligence on another person's part. It's unlikely that one could file a personal injury lawsuit against the other party and receive compensation. Still, it's wise to speak with the best slip and fall lawyer in St Louis if one feels they may have a case.

What Are the Most Common Slip-and-Fall Accident Injuries?

Falling at work, in a public place, or at home can result in a slip-and-fall injury.

The CDC claims that one out of every five falls will result in one of many common injuries, such as a broken bone, dislocated shoulders, or hip fractures.

A head injury is often common because of the nature of the fall. However, many other issues might arise. These can include:

1. TBI (Traumatic Brain Injuries)

According to the CDC, a slip-and-fall accident is the most common cause of a TBI. A traumatic brain injury happens when the victim strikes their head on the floor or another object, including a countertop or table.

However, a TBI can happen without one striking their head. If the neck is snapped sufficiently during a fall, this can cause brain trauma. An injury like this requires immediate medical attention.

Even if there isn't a direct impact to the brain, fall victims might not realize they experienced head injuries until it's too late. Therefore, it's wise to seek medical attention after falling, especially if the person experiences:

• Ringing in the ears

• Blurry vision

• Nausea

• Confusion

• Disorientation

• Headaches

• Dizziness

Experiencing those symptoms after falling might mean a head or brain injury. While it might be a mild concussion, the issue could be more serious.

2. Broken Bones

A slip-and-fall accident from a significant height could be enough to fracture a person's bones. The elderly are highly susceptible to broken bones when they fall because they are more fragile and weaker. Plus, they may not be as stable as they used to be.

Broken hips are also common for the elderly. Roughly 300,000 senior citizens are hospitalized each year for hip fractures, according to the CDC. About 95 percent of them happen because of a fall.

Generally, hip fractures can lead to more complications and even long-term disability. Strong, healthy, young people can also break bones during a fall. However, other parts can be cracked or smashed, such as:

• Collarbones

• Ribs

• Ankles

• Arms

• Wrists

• Hips

Ultimately, a broken bone from a fall is often extremely painful and will require a significant amount of time to heal. That can mean incurring high medical expenses.

3. Joint Injuries

While fractured bones and striking the head can all happen while falling, it's also possible to twist the limbs or body to brace for the impact and break the fall.

Sudden, sharp twisting of body parts and limbs can strain the joints and the tendons, muscles, and ligaments supporting them. This includes:

• Dislocated shoulders

• Torn muscles (such as the rotator cuff)

• Torn muscles in the knee (ACL or MCL)

• Sore and swollen wrists

• Sprained or twisted ankles

Simple strains and sprains can often be treated at home by elevating and icing the affected area. However, some slip-and-fall injuries, such as torn ligaments and muscles, might be disabling, painful, and long-term. Surgery or extended rehabilitation might be necessary.

4. Neck and Spinal Cord Injuries

Sometimes, a slip-and-fall accident doesn't end with head injuries. Still, bad falls can cause back and neck damage that could be just as serious.

Injury to the neck is often debilitating and painful. Plus, it can move to the spinal cord and back if not treated quickly and properly.

Spinal cord injuries may affect the nervous system. They're often catastrophic and will permanently affect the person's life and their ability to perform daily activities.

Typically, these types of injuries don't reveal themselves right away. One could fall and hurt themselves and not feel the effects until a few days afterward. Therefore, it's wise to seek medical attention immediately after falling.

Symptoms of a spinal cord or neck injury include:

• Tingling or numbness in the extremities

• Weakness in the limbs

• Inability to move the neck (or limited mobility)

• Intense pain

One can experience the symptoms listed above because of any of these injuries:

• Damaged tendons, muscles, and ligaments in the neck and around the spinal cord

• Ruptured, slipped, or herniated discs

• Pinched nerves

• Cracked or fractured vertebrae

Any of those injuries could be painful and serious. They can leave one incapacitated for a long period. Ultimately, it's wise to get immediate medical attention to treat the damage as soon as possible.

5. Facial Injuries

Slip-and-fall injuries are often made worse because it's impossible to break the impact with the body or arms. Therefore, it's easy to hurt the face when striking the ground or other objects.

While hitting the ground can lead to a traumatic brain injury, facial damage can also occur. This includes:

• Eye injuries

• A broken nose

• A lacerated tongue (after biting on impact)

• A broken jaw

• Broken or cracked teeth

• A split chin or lips

• Abrasions or cuts to the face

Facial injuries can be painful and serious, so it's important to seek medical attention to avoid further complications.

6. Superficial/Soft-Tissue Injuries (Lacerations, Scrapes, and Cuts)

People might suffer from serious internal slip-and-fall injuries, but they are also likely to experience cuts, lacerations, and scrapes to the face, elbows, hands, and knees.

Soft-tissue injuries might not seem severe, but they may take a long time to heal because of all the other issues. Likewise, debris or gravel can be unhygienic; they can damage the skin and lead to infection. One will need to have everything cleaned and removed.

Road rash is another potential issue. This happens when one brushes or scrapes the skin on a rough or hard surface. The condition is often slow to heal and may leave permanent scars.

Typically, soft-tissue injuries are minor. However, if they're not treated, they can cause long-term issues. Common symptoms include:

• Muscle spasms

• Limited mobility

• Stiffness

• Bruising

• Swelling

• Pain in the area

7. Chronic Pain

In most cases, pain is a symptom of a separate injury to a body part and can include the things listed above. Likewise, falling is often jolting and will leave a person feeling sore.

Specific slip-and-fall injuries, after being treated, can still cause lingering pain and soreness. Some might heal, but the body never fully recovers.

Sometimes, injuries never heal. If they do, the victim might require continued rehabilitation or medical treatment and cannot return to their full capacity. This is often called chronic pain, and it could last years, months, weeks, or the rest of the person's life.

Many times, those with chronic pain can't perform daily self-care habits, work, or enjoy activities with their friends and family members.

If one fell because of someone else's negligence, they can recover compensation for those injuries and symptoms relating to the accident. It's wise to document all medical records, take photos of the trauma when fresh, and be meticulous about healing. Evidence of the condition will be crucial to seek financial damages.

Injured in a Slip-and-Fall Accident?

Everyone makes mistakes, and some people are more clumsy than others. One might not pay attention while walking or attempt foolish and dangerous activities. Sometimes, they lose their balance or are dealing with bad weather. All of those could cause a slip and fall, and it's often no one's fault.

However, there can be times when one falls, and it isn't their fault. Someone else was to blame. The victim was as cautious and careful as can be, but another party created a hazard through negligence that caused the accident. In these cases, the hurt person can be compensated for a slip-and-fall injury.

It's hard to determine if the victim should file a personal injury claim after falling on someone else's property. Still, it's never wise to assume that it was their fault.

Many times, the property owner caused the problem or knew about an issue and didn't fix it promptly. Therefore, they are financially responsible for the victim's damages and injuries and should be required to pay for them.

Request a Free Consultation From a Reputable Personal Injury Lawyer!

Were you hurt after slipping and falling on public or private property? You should speak with a personal injury attorney from Powell Law Firm. Our team can also provide insight on common injuries for a dog bite.

It's important to understand the common injuries for a slip and fall, which can include soft-tissue issues, bone fractures, nerve damage, and so much more. Speak to a medical professional about treatment and request a free consultation from Powell Law Firm today. We can assess your situation to see if you have a case and represent you if necessary.