Slip and fall accidents can lead to various injuries depending on what part of your body is impacted most by the fall. Sometimes, people may not realize they have serious injuries due to the lack of symptoms. Common injuries from a fall, like head or back injuries, may not present themselves immediately following the accident. So, what are the symptoms to look for after a fall?
The Houston slip and fall attorneys at Reich & Binstock have listed the most common symptoms people experience following a fall. As soon as you notice any of the signs listed below, it’s crucial to seek medical treatment for your injuries. Those symptoms could indicate a more serious problem, like a traumatic brain injury or internal bleeding.
If you were injured in a slip and fall due to negligence, contact the attorneys at Reich & Binstock to learn more about the legal options available. To schedule a free consultation, call 713-622-7271 today.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents?
Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere. Sometimes, these accidents can occur when you’re not paying attention or because of a hazard not taken care of or warned against. The most common causes of slip and fall accidents are:
- Uneven sidewalks or flooring
- Potholes or cracks
- Loose floorboards
- Liquids or food that has spilled
- Exposed wiring or other tripping hazard
- Missing handrails
- Nursing home abuse or neglect
- Poor lighting
- Wet floors
- Broken steps
When your slip and fall accident could have been avoided had the property owner taken care of it, you could have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. If you were injured on another person’s property due to their negligence, the Houston slip and fall attorneys are ready to help.
What Are the Most Common Types of Slip and Fall Injuries?
Slip and fall accidents can often cause severe injuries. In fact, many fall-related injuries may present themselves later, so it’s always important to seek medical attention promptly after you’ve suffered a fall.
The most common slip and fall injuries are:
- Elbow, shoulder, and wrist injuries: It’s second nature to attempt to brace yourself when you begin to fall, leading to various injuries in your elbows, shoulders, or wrists. Minor injuries may just need to heal on their own, while others can require extensive rehabilitation.
- Broken bones: The Elderly are especially susceptible to breaking bones in a slip-and-fall accident, but all victims are at risk. The most common broken bones from a slip and fall are the arms, lower legs, collarbone, hips, and ribcage.
- Knee and ankle injuries: Soft tissue injuries like sprains and strains are common and less severe, but broken bones and tears can be much more serious and painful.
- Cuts and lacerations: If you fall on broken glass, sharp metal, or other objects, you can suffer severe lacerations requiring stitches. If they’re deep enough, they can cause muscle, nerve, and soft tissue damage.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): A traumatic brain injury can lead to many different head injuries like concussions, coup-contrecoup injuries, hematomas, and more. It’s important to seek medical attention immediately if you suspect you’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury. If you’ve suffered a head injury following a slip and fall accident, contact the Houston traumatic brain injury attorneys to learn more.
- Neck injuries: Whiplash is a common neck injury that can occur in a fall. This injury is caused by the spinal cord and soft neck tissue being violently shaken during the fall. Neck injuries can also cause damage to the ligaments, muscles, and tendons in the neck.
- Facial injuries: Facial injuries can range from cuts and bruises to more serious injuries like nose fractures, broken teeth, jaw fractures, and eye injuries. Concussions or other head injuries often accompany facial injuries.
- Spinal cord injury: Spinal cord injuries are another more serious injury in a slip and fall accident. These injuries can result in slipped and herniated discs and fractured vertebrae. Depending on the severity of the injury, a person can experience limited mobility or paralysis. The Houston spinal cord injury attorneys can provide more information on how to pursue legal action following spinal injuries.
- Chronic pain: A person can suffer from chronic pain following a slip and fall accident due to their injuries. Chronic pain can often be debilitating enough to prevent a person from working and enjoying day-to-day activities.
13 Symptoms to Look for After a Fall
Following a slip and fall accident, people can suffer a number of different symptoms that can range from minor to more severe. Slip and fall injuries sometimes don’t present symptoms until several days after the accident. Regardless of whether you think you’ve been injured in a fall, it’s always important to get medical treatment.
Our Houston slip and fall attorneys have listed the most common symptoms that people can experience following a slip and fall accident. If you’ve recently fallen and experienced any of the symptoms listed below, it’s critical to seek medical attention before the condition worsens.
1. Sharp, Sudden Pain
Broken bones are often accompanied by sudden, sharp pain. When you’ve broken a bone, you may also notice swelling in the area of the break or some disfigurement. Some broken bones, like hip fractures, may not be visible to the naked eye but can cause severe pain.
2. Ongoing Pain
You can expect some level of pain whenever you fall and hit the ground. If that pain doesn’t subside or worsens over time, you need to seek medical attention. You may have broken a bone or suffered a strain or sprain. Back pain is another injury that can linger after a fall. If you notice back or neck pain that won’t go away, you could have a more serious injury that requires medical treatment.
3. You Have Symptoms of a Head Injury
If you hit your head in a fall, seeking immediate medical attention is crucial. Some head injury symptoms may show up later, so even if you’re not experiencing pain, make an appointment with a medical professional.
4. Severe Lacerations
Falling onto sharp objects can cause serious cuts and lacerations. These injuries often require medical attention to stop the bleeding and reduce the chances of an infection. The lacerations can sometimes be deep enough to cause nerve damage.
5. New Back Pain
After a fall, if you begin to notice back pain or an increase in your pain, you should seek medical treatment. Back pain can mean a variety of injuries, like muscle strains or herniated discs. The only way to know what’s causing your back pain and how to treat it is to visit a medical professional.
6. Restrictions in Movement
Many individuals can experience some stiffness after a fall, but when that severe pain limits your movements, you need to seek immediate medical attention. Stiffness will often work itself out, but in some cases, it could mean more serious injuries. Some injuries, like a broken bone or hip, can be accompanied by stiffness. As soon as you notice a decrease in your mobility, contact a medical professional or visit an emergency room.
7. Something Feels “Off”
Everyone knows when they feel good and when they don’t. If you’ve fallen recently and can’t put your finger on what feels off, seeking medical attention is always a good idea. Even if your doctor finds no serious injuries, it can give you peace of mind.
8. Significant Bruising
Victims of slip and fall accidents can usually expect bruising afterward. Bruising can often indicate trauma, like broken blood vessels. In more serious cases, bruising can signify more severe injuries like internal bleeding, sprains, or strains. If you notice painful, significant bruising, you need medical attention.
9. Stomach Pain
Stomach pain can feel unrelated to a fall injury, especially if you didn’t hurt that area when you fell. However, stomach pain can indicate internal injuries and bleeding. When you notice stomach pain after a fall, don’t ignore it. A professional medical evaluation can help find the source of your pain so that you can receive proper treatment.
10. Balance Problems and Dizziness
If you’re struggling with dizziness or balance problems after a fall, you may have suffered a head or brain injury.
11. Serious Swelling
Some swelling after a fall can be expected, but if the swelling gets worse in the days following the accident, you may have a broken bone or sprain. Pay attention to your swelling and seek medical assistance if it worsens.
12. Ear Ringing or Tinnitus
Head injuries can cause tinnitus or ringing in the ears. If you have constant ringing or have trouble hearing, seeking medical attention is critical. These can be signs of severe injuries.
13. Memory Problems
If you’re having trouble remembering things that you wouldn’t normally forget, it could mean that you have a more serious head injury. Disorientation and confusion are also signs of head injuries.
When to See a Doctor After a Slip and Fall
After any type of accident, it’s always important to seek medical attention regardless of whether you think you’ve been injured. A fall injury can often show signs days after the initial accident that a doctor can find earlier. If your injury was caused by another person’s negligence, seeking medical attention is crucial for a personal injury claim, as the records can show the relation between the accident and your injury.
What If Your Symptoms Are Not Clear?
Some injury symptoms may not be visible or felt after your accident. Many victims can think they’re perfectly fine after a slip and fall. Even if your symptoms aren’t clear, it’s still important to get checked out by a medical professional to ensure you don’t have a concussion, internal injuries, or bleeding.
What If You Notice Symptoms Later?
If you didn’t get medical treatment after your fall but notice some signs that you may have an injury, it’s not too late to get checked out. As soon as you begin seeing signs, visit the emergency room or make an appointment with your doctor. Even a delayed diagnosis can help a personal injury claim.
Should I Contact a Personal Injury Attorney?
If someone else’s negligence caused your slip and fall, you can pursue legal action. Many slip and fall injuries can leave a person with serious pain and extensive medical treatments, depending on how severe the injury is. Even if you didn’t get medical treatment immediately following your accident, it’s still important to seek treatment to strengthen your personal injury case.
The Houston slip and fall attorneys at Reich & Binstock have experience handling various personal injury and accident cases. Our team of attorneys has recovered millions in settlements and verdicts and is prepared to do the same for you. We will work relentlessly to recover compensation for the following damages:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Physical therapy
- Mobility devices
- Home health services
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Disability
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
Call the Slip and Fall Attorneys at Reich & Binstock Today
You need a knowledgeable team of attorneys fighting for your rights when pursuing a lawsuit against the negligent party that caused your slip and fall. The personal injury attorneys at Reich & Binstock have experience handling slip and fall cases that have occurred in the workplace, at grocery stores, and more.
Depending on the circumstances of your accident, several parties may be liable for damages. Our attorneys will work to determine who is responsible for your injuries and make sure they’re held accountable.
To learn more about your legal options surrounding a slip and fall, contact Reich & Binstock by calling 713-622-7271.
