What Are Common Slip & Fall Injuries?

Slip and Fall

Common slip and fall injuries can range from minor to life-changing injuries. You may lose days or weeks from work, and be saddled with numerous medical expenses, and require ongoing medical care. Slip & fall also results in dire injury that can require medical help for the rest of your life to do even basic tasks. Slip and falls are the most common types of personal injuries, 2nd only to auto accidents.

Some of the most common types of slip & fall injuries are:

• Head, neck & brain injuries – Slip and fall on almost all kinds of surfaces, such as the ground, curbs, counters, etc. can cause an impact hard enough for a concussion or worse. Regardless of what the surface is made of, the actual motion of your head and neck, as well as the impact, can cause a head, neck, or brain injury. If you’ve hit your head in a slip and fall it often results in a medical emergency, and you should be checked out immediately. If you have swelling or bleeding on the brain, immediate medical care can make a big difference in your recovery. You could have a concussion or even a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
• Soft tissue injuries – Soft tissue injury may affect a tendon, muscle, ligament, fascia, skin, or other fibrous tissue in the body. They can be very minor or extremely serious. A minor soft tissue injury example is a sprained ankle that doesn’t include any tears in the tendon, muscle, or ligament. Injuries that include torn muscles, tendons, or ligaments may require surgery and long-term recuperative care.
• Bruising and lacerations – Lacerations and bruising also have the potential to be minor (as in a minor fall) but also quite serious in some circumstances. The most common bruising usually occurs on the limbs, and most lacerations affect the head and hip area. Deep lacerations can cause blood loss, require stitches, and can also become infected.
• Spinal cord injuries – As expected spinal cord injuries can be profoundly serious, especially when severed or compressed (as in an impact injury). These injuries can often be life-threatening and create a costly, long-term medical problem, and they may need long-term medical care. You can see how this care can be exceptionally expensive and put you millions of dollars in debt in just the first year of treatment.

You shouldn’t take any injury lightly and get yourself medically evaluated as soon as possible. Also, if you even consider that negligence, or oversight might have contributed to your injury, consult with an Edinburg personal injury attorney, and get valuable advice you may need.

What Should I Do After a Slip & Fall Injury?

Currently, slip & fall injuries are a leading reason for hospital emergency room visits. If you or any of your family have been injured in a slip & fall accident on someone else’s property or possibly due to anyone’s fault, you must understand your legal rights.

There are a few particularly important things to keep in mind:

• First, get immediate medical help – See that a doctor treats you as soon as possible so that they may determine just how seriously you are hurt, and at the same time obtain a written professional diagnosis of just what was inflicted upon you. Your medical evaluation will help your personal injury lawyer get you the compensation for the treatment you deserve.
• Identify exactly what happened or caused the incident – Try to write down your thoughts (or have someone document them) as soon as possible as this information can aid your doctor in treating you and prove invaluable in the court to help your lawyer get you, and your family, what you need to recover.
• Take photos and get names of witnesses – This also may help your medical team and help you prove what occurred if it becomes necessary. If you cannot do this, possibly have a friend or someone at the scene help.

If I Feel I May Need to File a Lawsuit, is there a Timetable in Texas to Do So?

The simple answer is yes, and if you are injured in a slip and fall, you should be aware of this legal deadline.

In Texas, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, including slip and fall, is two years from the date of the accident.

Simply put, to be eligible to file a slip & fall (also known as premises liability) lawsuit, you will need to file your claim within two years from the date of your slip and fall accident in which you sustained your injuries.

If you do not file a lawsuit during this two-year time window, you may not be able to file a lawsuit at any point in the future. It’s important to note that some injuries, especially to the brain and spine, may have symptoms that manifest weeks or months after your accident. Future treatments, medical costs, and recovery can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, so time is truly “of the essence”.

If I Must File a Lawsuit, How Does My Lawyer Prove Negligence?

The three major areas that your Texas slip & fall lawyer must address (and ultimately prove) to present and win your case are as follows:

• Liability – The defendant had a duty of care and was negligent in performing their duty of care.
• Negligence – The defendant breached that duty, and you (as the plaintiff) were harmed.
• Responsibility/Fault – The breach of duty, or negligence on the part of the defendant, was a major factor in causing your injuries.

Although the terms “Slip and Fall” are generally used, they can refer to many types of accidents that can occur on private or business property.

I’ve Been Hurt in a Slip & Fall Accident, and Need Advice, What Should I Do?

The most sensible step to take, particularly if your injuries are grave or you think your condition can get worse, is to consult an experienced Edinburg or McAllen personal injury lawyer. The Brasure Law Firm has represented numerous clients in these types of cases. Consult with them, and for you, and your family’s sake, don’t leave your future to chance.