Common Injuries in a Slip and Fall Accident

People in the United States are involved in slips, trips, and falls every day. While many of these falls are simply due to clumsiness or inattentiveness on the fall victim’s part, other accidents are due to negligent behavior on the part of the property owner. If a business or property owner fails to keep the premises in reasonably safe condition for customers or guests or allows a dangerous condition to remain on the property without a proper warning, that owner should be held liable for any injuries suffered in a resulting slip and fall accident.

Slip and Fall Accidents can Cause Serious Injuries

 While many people may believe that a slip and fall accident is not a big deal, the truth is that many serious injuries can result from this type of incident. For example, if a fall victim slips, goes feet over head, and lands on their neck or head, they could suffer life-changing spinal or brain damage.

Even less serious injuries may require substantial medical treatment, as the National Safety Council (NSC) reports that an estimated 8.9 million Americans seek medical attention at emergency rooms each year due to injuries suffered in falls. Additionally, the NSC states that approximately 25,000 of those fall victims did not survive their injuries in 2009 alone.

The following are common examples of serious injuries that may result from slips, trips, and falls:

• Broken or fractured bones;
• Soft tissue injuries, such as sprains or tears;
• Head injuries;
• Traumatic brain injuries;
• Spinal injuries;
• Other neck or back injuries;
• Organ damage;
• Internal bleeding; and
• Contusions or lacerations.

Many of the above injuries require extensive medical treatment, including emergency visits, hospitalization, surgery, physical or other rehabilitative therapy, special medical equipment, and much more.

Elderly slip and fall victims are especially at high risk for serious injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falling is the number one cause of both nonfatal and fatal injuries in adults over age 65. Older adults are at a much higher risk of broken hips, an injury that can require extensive treatment and may even completely eliminate their ability to live independently again. This means that such victims will now face the expense of a nursing home or other assisted living facility. Additionally, a number of victims who suffer hip fractures die each year due to infection, weakened immune systems, surgical complications, and more.

Whether a fall victim suffers minor or severe injuries, he or she still deserves to recover for any relevant losses from the responsible party.

Contact an Experienced Boca Raton Personal Injury Attorney for a free consultation

If you have suffered any type of injury in a slip and fall accident because a business or property owner was negligent, you should always consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. At the Boca Raton office of Lavalle Brown & Ronan, P.A., our skilled attorneys are committed to helping accident victims fully recover for their losses. Please contact our office today at 855-BOCALAW to schedule your free consultation today.

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