Slip-and-falls can occur at a coffee shop or a pet store. People can trip over a power cord at their local convenience store or slip in spilled salsa at a grocery store. Most people who slip and fall sustain only minor injuries, if that. They may have a few scrapes or bruises, but they are likely to recover quickly and fully.
People often leave the scene of a slip-and-fall without reporting the incident or seeing a medical professional. Several days later, they might start noticing signs that they actually sustained a significant injury. It is possible for slip-and-fall incidents to cause injuries so severe that they not only require costly medical care but also affect the long-term earning potential of the person who fell.
What are the worst possible slip-and-fall injuries?
For many people, broken bones are a concern in a slip-and-fall scenario. Particularly if the person who falls is in their 50s or older, they could be at elevated risk of a fracture. A broken bone might force a professional to take several weeks away from their job or request light-duty responsibilities until they recover.
Broken bones are not the worst injury possible in a slip-and-fall situation. The worst outcome involves a person hitting their head. People who fall could strike their heads on the floor, the wall, a shopping cart or even store fixtures, like shelving units.
Blunt-force trauma to the head can cause a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that might produce a variety of serious symptoms. TBI symptoms can include changes in personality, cognitive issues, motor function challenges and changes in sensory perception. People who hurt their heads in a slip-and-fall scenario might become incapable of continuing their careers in more severe cases.
Anyone who strikes their head when they fall is at risk of developing TBI symptoms. In some cases, those symptoms can take days to present after the initial incident. Those who slip and fall at a store can protect themselves by informing management of the incident to ensure that there are records of the fall.
They may also need to see a doctor. The sooner people with brain injuries get diagnosed, the better their chances of limiting symptom progression. A prompt diagnosis can also make it easier to connect the injury to the incident at the business.
People who get hurt at a business may be able to file an insurance claim or even a lawsuit to cover their expenses. Pursuing a successful premises liability claim after a slip-and-fall causes serious injuries can help people who have been hurt due to negligence pay for their medical care and replace their lost income.
