Every year, more than a million people suffer from slip and fall injuries. Also known as trip and fall injuries, they often occur when property owners and businesses fail to maintain their premises as they are supposed to. While this might seem like a minor issue, slip and fall injuries can result in severe harm, and possibly even death. Here are just seven of the most common types of injuries seen in slip and fall (or trip and fall) cases:
- Sprained wrists or ankles
- One of the most common types of injuries incurred in slip and fall accidents is a sprained wrist or ankle. These injuries, along with bruises and muscle contusions, are sometimes referred to as “soft tissue” injuries, because they involve damage to the muscles, ligaments, or tendons. Although they are usually not as severe as a broken bone, they can still cause significant pain and difficulty handling regular tasks, and they require weeks for a full recovery.
- Dislocated shoulders
- A dislocation occurs when a joint is forced out of its proper position, and unfortunately, dislocations are very common in slip and fall accidents. The most common type of dislocation is a dislocated shoulder, which happens when someone attempts to break their fall. Although a dislocation can be repaired relatively easily most of the time, it can be very painful, and it increases the likelihood of future dislocations.
- Broken arms or legs
- The impact from a slip and fall accident may not seem like much, but even a relatively healthy person can suffer a bone fracture as a result of one. Even in mild cases, a broken arm or leg can take months to heal, during which time the affected limb needs to be immobilized. In worse cases, a broken limb may require surgery to repair, further increasing the pain and the length of time needed for recovery.
- Broken hips
- Like broken arms or legs, broken hips are no joke. These are most commonly seen in elderly victims, who also tend to suffer more severe injuries in slip and fall cases. Depending on the severity of the break, a person with a broken hip may not be able to walk while they are recovering, causing a significant impairment in their ability to handle their day-to-day tasks.
- Back and neck injuries
- These sorts of injuries most often happen in slip and fall accidents when someone falls backwards and hits their back or neck. Someone may suffer a fractured spine, or suffer a spinal herniation (sometimes known as “slipping a disc”), causing substantial pain. Aside from the normal risks associated with damage to bones, a spinal injury could cause problems with a person’s ability to walk or move, and in some cases it may result in a permanent disability.
- Nerve damage
- It is not just the muscles or bones that are a potential problem for people who suffer a slip and fall accident. You may also suffer damage to your nerves, which can result in either constant pain, or a loss of sensation in an affected body part. Nerve damage can take a very long time to heal, and in some cases may be permanent.
- Head injuries
- The risk of a head injury should never be underestimated, even in cases where there is no apparent head wound. Even a minor concussion can cause problems for weeks after an accident, and a more severe injury can result in dizziness, nausea, mood swings, disruption to sleep, and memory loss. If you suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI), you may deal with the effects of that for the rest of your life.
Fox Law Firm, PLLC is a New York personal injury law practice serving clients throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. With more than three decades of law practice experience, attorney Kevin Fox has helped clients in personal injury cases obtain the compensation they deserve. For more information or to ask for a consultation, call our Riverhead office at 631-779-3400 or visit our contact page.
