Slip and fall accidents can cause more than minor bumps and bruises. Statistics from the National Floor Safety Institute reveal that slip and fall accidents account for more than one million emergency room visits each year. A victim may need emergency treatment following a serious fall for injuries including a broken bone or severe head trauma. In extreme cases, a slip and fall accident can result in long-term injuries.
Complications from Hip Fractures
Bone fractures are common and serious consequences related to slip and fall accidents. These types of injuries can happen in any part of the body, but the most frequent locations of these injuries include the wrists, arms, knees, and hips. Hip fractures are the most dangerous of all bone fractures in a slip and fall accident, particularly for the elderly. Nearly half of all seniors over the age of 65 hospitalized due to hip fractures from falls are unable to live independently following a serious fall.
The risk of severe health complications is what makes hip fractures a potential long-term injury. These injuries can leave a victim immobile for an extended period of time while they focus on their recovery. This can contribute to other health concerns, such as bedsores, urinary tract infections, blood clots, and the loss of muscle mass. Even after a hip fracture heals, a slip and fall victim can continue to suffer from the repercussions of their injuries. Elderly victims may be unable to survive serious hip fractures due to the danger of secondary conditions.
Knee Damage
Slip and accidents are known to cause severe knee damage because a victim may twist his or her knee while falling, and the kneecap may break or shatter upon impact. Knee injuries are often difficult to heal. The knee is a complicated part of the body, consisting of many different bones, muscles, and ligaments. A torn ACL or MCL can be difficult to repair and can cause long-lasting pain or immobility. Many slip and fall victims require knee reconstruction surgeries and ongoing physical rehabilitation.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
If a victim strikes his or her head during the fall, a traumatic brain injury can occur in a slip and fall accident. If the head strikes the ground or a sharp object, it can result in brain trauma, with or without a skull fracture. Brain trauma can mean bleeding or swelling in the brain, as well as damage to cells in areas of the brain.
Severe brain injuries can result in long-term complications that may last weeks or months, including cognitive challenges, trouble communicating, and headaches. In severe cases, a victim may even be left with permanent brain damage following a slip and fall accident.
Spinal Cord Injuries
A victim may suffer long-term pain and disability if a slip and fall accident results in damage to the spinal cord. The spinal cord is extremely delicate, and if any part of the spine is injured in a fall, the victim may be unable to make a full recovery. Nerve damage can lead to chronic back pain, while a more severe spinal cord injury can end in permanent paralysis.
Contact a Houston Personal Injury Attorney about a Long-Term Injury due to a Slip and Fall
These are just some of the many examples of injuries that can result in long-term pain and other symptoms following a slip and fall accident. These are severe accidents that often lead to premises liability lawsuits in Houston. If you or a loved one has suffered a long-term or catastrophic injury from a slip and fall accident, consult with a personal injury lawyer in Houston about recovering compensation for your past and future medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Slip and Fall Injury Attorneys in Houston
Each year falls are responsible for over eight million hospital visits in the United States. Fractures are the most severe consequences of serious falls and are involved in an estimated 5% of falls. Nearly half of all accident deaths occurring in the home involve falls.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a fall, you need to consult with one of our qualified Texas personal injury lawyers today. At West Loop Law and the Law Office of Nhan Nguyen, MD, JD, we provide aggressive legal representation to those injured in personal injury accidents. We can advise you on how to seek compensation for your damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact our offices immediately at 713-840-7200 to see what we can do for you.
Recent Comments