Not every person who falls gets hurt. However, slip and fall injuries can be extremely serious and leave a victim in severe pain, unable to work, with a pile of medical bills, and unable to provide for their family.
You could be eligible for financial compensation if you fell on another person’s property as long as you prove the property owner was negligent. That’s not an easy task.
Working with a skilled and knowledgeable premises liability lawyer from Nonni Homola, who has handled claims for many clients suffering from common slip and fall injuries, increases your chances of maximizing your financial recovery.
Contact our office online or call (850) 601-1111 today to learn more about your rights.
Slip and Fall Injury Types
Statistically speaking, many falls do not cause serious injury. However, the CDC says one out of every five falls causes serious damage, such as a broken bone or a head injury.
Falls are the number one cause of traumatic brain injury. Additionally, 800,000 patients require hospitalization each year due to a broken bone or head injury suffered from falling, about 300,000 of which are 65 or older.
A variety of injuries can occur when you slip and fall. Frequently slip and fall victims are caught off-guard by their sudden loss of balance.
Trying to regain balance or trying to break falls can cause serious injuries. Falling awkwardly or so rapidly that you have no chance to brace yourself can also lead to severe injuries.
Broken Bones
Falling often leads to orthopedic injuries like broken or fractured bones. Broken bones in the hands, wrists, arms, and collarbone occur when a fall victim shoots their hand out to break their fall.
Fractures in the ankles and legs are common, with broken hips often requiring lengthy rehabilitation.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury can occur even if you do not strike your head. A violent jolt from falling or trying to stop your fall can force your brain to hit your skull. The violent jarring of your brain causes concussions.
You can sustain a concussion even if you do not hit your head hard on the ground.
Additionally, concussions do not always result in a loss of consciousness. However, you may experience dizziness, fogginess, vision loss, blurred vision, or a painful headache.
Skull fractures also threaten a fall victim by causing hemorrhaging or a subdural hematoma. These injuries are life-threatening and require immediate medical intervention.
Back Injuries
Back injuries are another common slip and fall injury. They could be potentially life-altering, like a spinal cord injury. Spinal cord injuries can heal, but they often lead to paralysis.
Even if you avoid a catastrophic back injury, you could have slipped a disc or have a tissue injury like a pulled or torn muscle, ligament, or tendon.
Similarly, neck injuries can occur when you fall due to the violent extension and contraction of your head and neck. You could have a case of whiplash after a hard fall.
However, you could also experience nerve damage. Nerve damage can leave you weak, in intense pain, or with numbing or tingling sensations in your extremities.
Dislocated Joints
Shoulder and elbow dislocations are common slip and fall injuries. These injuries happen when one uses their arm to stop the fall, and the pressure from hitting the ground forces the joint out of its socket.
Joint dislocations can be incredibly painful and take a long time to heal. You may need surgery to repair a joint dislocation.
Knee Injuries
Everyone in Florida knows that water from heavy rains mounts quickly. Wet shoes and clothing bring the elements inside, creating a slippery surface.
That’s when knee injuries can happen—taking a step and sliding on a puddle of water that is not easy to see stretches and twists the knee.
Unnatural or sudden stress on the knee could lead to injuries like cartilage tears, tendon and ligament damage, dislocation of the kneecap, and other injuries.
Chronic Pain
No matter how old you are, falling hurts. Slip and fall injuries can lead to long and painful recoveries. You might need surgery, rehabilitation, and physical therapy to regain your health. You might need to be out of work to recuperate.
Unfortunately, life does not stop. Your bills will continue to come in, and your family will still need your attention. Sadly, being unable to live as fully as you once did can lead to depression, anxiety, or hopelessness.
Do You Have a Slip and Fall Injury?
Florida has a four-year statute of limitations on negligence claims. That might seem like a long time, but it isn’t. That’s why we recommend contacting our office right away as soon as possible after your fall.
Our attorneys can start your claims process immediately and give you the best chance to maximize your financial recovery.
We have over 40 years of experience winning cases for people like you. We have the tools you need to win a settlement quickly.
Our energetic and aggressive team has compiled an impressive track record of documented success. Contact us online or call (850) 601-1111 for a free consultation.
Chris received his Juris Doctorate from Florida State University College of Law in 2008, and he was admitted to the Florida Bar in December of 2008 followed by the State Bar of Texas in May of 2009. He has litigated, mediated, and resolved over five hundred first-party storm damage claims, and he has litigated, mediated, and successfully resolved multiple major construction defect claims with recoveries in excess of $1,800,000.00.
Loading...