Slip and fall injuries are caused when a person slips, falls, and injures themselves while they are outside. Slipping and falling is an everyday occurrence, and most of the time people don’t take the time to really consider what happens when they slip.
If a person were to take some time to actually think about their slip and fall injuries, they might start to realize how much danger they present.
Below are the four common injuries you get when you slip and fall and how you can manage them:
Broken Bones
Falling from an unexpected height is one of the leading causes of slip-and-fall injuries such as broken bones, especially for adults over the age of 65. Most broken bone injuries are caused by falling on hard surfaces such as stairs, pavement, etc.
While some injuries simply hurt nothing more than your pride, broken bones can result in serious injuries. They may result in permanent damage to the bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the body which can lead to temporary or permanent disability.
It’s very important to check with your doctor about the seriousness of any broken bones and to have a physical examination done to determine the right treatment and therapy sessions.
Any major bone injury should be examined by a doctor right away so that they can be treated.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Some slip-and-falls may also result in a traumatic brain injury. This type of injury often results from a head injury or a serious blow to the head, and it results in symptoms such as numbness, tingling, difficulty speaking or swallowing, seizures, headaches, fatigue, or nausea.
Many people don’t realize that they’re at risk of suffering from this devastating and life-altering injury, but any head trauma, even from something as simple as a fall, should be taken seriously for this reason.
If you’ve suffered any type of head injury caused by a slip and fall accident in Washington, DC, you should contact an experienced DC injury attorney immediately to discuss the potential benefits that you may be able to obtain in the form of a lawsuit.
Aside from talking to a lawyer, you should also consult your doctor to determine the appropriate medications and treatments for your recovery.
Spinal Cord Injuries
A fall could also result in an injury to your back or spinal cord. These, like head injuries, have the potential to have very serious medical consequences, like decreased mobility and chronic pain, that require long periods of medical leave to do treatments and rehabilitation.
In short, you might lose your job, be saddled by unexpected medical costs, and have on-going medical attention.
Thus, the first step in dealing with your spinal cord injury is to talk to a qualified medical professional about any injuries and other possible complications.
A doctor, licensed physical therapist, or chiropractor can determine whether or not there are any risks that might impact your mobility and any other concerns, and then recommend exercises or medication for you.
Bruise And Cut Injuries
Usually people who slip and fall will have either bruises and cuts that bleed when they get up after the accident. However, it is worse distinguishing between ordinary bruises and cuts and more severe bruises and lacerations.
Depending on the severity of the injury, they may not heal on their own, or at least not without higher chances of complications like infections. Bruises can also very difficult to treat because treatment can only easily repair superficial damage and not necessarily the internal bleeding that produces the bruising.
In such a case, don’t hesitate to consult your doctor for the right treatment for your bruises and cuts. At the very least, make sure you get an antibiotic ointment for any cuts or lacerations to help prevent infection. If you do get an infection, your doctor can prescribe a round of antibiotics to treat the problem.
With bruising, keep a close eye on the coloration and shape, and if it seems that a bruise is not lightening in color in a few days, or has started to grow, consult your doctor as it may indicate a more severe injury.
Conclusion
With the information mentioned above, it’s clear that slip and fall injuries can be extremely painful and often lead to permanent disability if not properly treated.
For these reasons, you may seek compensation to cover the medical costs that come with your injuries. To start the process, you should find a personal injury lawyer to represent and fight for your rights against the at-fault party.
