Slip and fall accidents are more common than you might think. In fact, they're a leading cause of injury, death and disability in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), slip-and-fall injuries account for 1 out of every 4 workplace injuries each year. They also cost employers an estimated $18 billion annually in workers' compensation claims alone--a number that doesn't include medical expenses or lost productivity due to missed work days by injured employees who need time off from their jobs while recovering from their injuries.
Slip and fall accidents are a common source of injuries, and the nature of these accidents can vary widely. Some slip and falls result from someone's negligence or carelessness; others are caused by icy sidewalks, poorly maintained stairways or slippery floors in public places. The injuries that result from slip and fall accidents also vary widely.
In the following blog, we talk about some of the most common injuries these accidents might result in.
Neck and Back Injuries
Neck and back injuries are common in slip and fall accidents. The severity of these injuries varies, but they can be debilitating. Neck and back injuries may cause pain, numbness and tingling that radiate down into your arms or legs. You may also experience loss of mobility or income because of these types of injuries, which can be very painful to deal with on top of an already stressful situation like being involved in a slip and fall accident.
Broken Bones or Fractures
Broken bones are common injuries in slip and fall accidents. A broken bone can be treated with casts or surgery, but it may lead to amputation and chronic pain. If you suffer from a broken bone, your quality of life will likely decline as you deal with the physical limitations caused by your injury.
You should also be aware that if you have osteoporosis (weak or brittle bones), this makes it more likely that you'll suffer a fracture when falling down stairs or slipping on ice.
Head Injuries
Head and brain injuries are serious. They can cause permanent damage that may result in cognitive impairment, memory loss, headaches and dizziness. In severe cases of head trauma a person may experience nausea, fatigue or even seizures.
Wrongful Death
Wrongful death is the loss of a loved one due to another person's negligence. In order to file a wrongful death lawsuit, you must prove that you have suffered damages as a result of your loved one's death. This can be difficult because there are many things that need to be considered when determining whether or not someone's death was wrongfully caused by someone else's actions.
Pain and Suffering Compensation
In general, pain and suffering compensation is not the same as medical bills. It's also not the same as lost wages or physical therapy or other expenses you may have incurred due to your injury. Pain and suffering compensation is intended to help you with the emotional trauma that comes with being injured in a slip-and-fall accident, but it cannot bring back what was lost during that time.
It's important to note that pain and suffering is just one piece of a personal injury claim--it shouldn't be considered its own separate category when thinking about whether or not someone should take legal action against an employer who caused their accident.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can be devastating, causing paralysis or loss of sensation in the arms and legs. They can also lead to loss of bladder control, bowel control, and other functions. In some cases, people who suffer these kinds of injuries may retain some feeling in their limbs but still experience significant pain when they try to move them.
How JDL Law can help!
Slip and fall cases are often complex, with a lot of moving parts. If you have suffered an injury from a slip and fall accident, it is important that you find an experienced personal injury attorney to represent your case. Contact us by calling or texting 210-997-2929. Our team will gladly offer a FREE consultation for your case!