Comic writers and comedic actors have often relied on slip and falls as a comedic punchline. Most of the time, people who experience same-level falls only sustain minor injuries, such as scrapes or bruises. However, slip and falls can result in very serious injuries that are no laughing matter.
Older adults are particularly vulnerable to severe injuries if they fall in a public location. People with unusual medical conditions can also be more susceptible to severe injury. Even relatively healthy people can get hurt if they fall in just the wrong way. They may then have major medical expenses or lost wages to cover. Those who are injured may need to pursue a premises liability claim because of their slip and fall.
What types of injuries may follow a slip and fall incident?
1. Soft tissue injuries
It is a natural human reaction to tense up when a fall seems imminent. People may experience extreme muscular tension or pain in their joints following a fall. They may develop symptoms similar to whiplash.
The symptoms may include ongoing pain and tension in their neck, shoulders and back. They may require pain management, muscle relaxers or physical therapy to fully recover. Some people may have to take time off from work because they cannot perform job functions without worsening their soft tissue injuries.
2. Broken bones
In addition to tensing up, most people try to catch themselves when they fall. Particularly in scenarios where an individual is older, has low bone density or is particularly heavy, trying to stop a fall in progress could potentially lead to a fracture or broken bone.
Broken bones can mean two months or more of recovery time, followed by rehabilitation. Those in blue-collar or service professions may not be able to work with a fracture.
3. Brain injuries
The reason people instinctively try to help themselves when they fall is that hitting their head can be the worst possible outcome. If someone falls abruptly or cannot slow their descent, they could strike their head on the floor, nearby fixtures or a shopping cart.
They could sustain a traumatic brain injury. Minor brain injuries may heal with time, but moderate to severe brain injuries can cause permanent symptoms.
Provided that a business caused a dangerous circumstances through negligence, a slip and fall injury may provide grounds for a premises liability lawsuit. Reporting the incident and seeking medical care are both important steps for those who fall in a public space and have injuries.