Common Slip and Fall Injuries

Slip and Fall Injuries

Slip and fall injuries can occur anywhere, to anyone. Slip and fall injuries can bring painful and life-changing consequences, including expensive medical bills, lost wages, and mental anguish.

The Premises Liability Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale at the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato has helped many slip and fall victims recover compensation. It is your right to file a slip and fall lawsuit to pursue the compensation you deserve.

Types of Slip and Fall Injuries

From broken bones to catastrophic injuries, you can be seriously injured in a slip and fall accident. For your convenience, we have compiled a list of the most common slip and fall accident injuries:

Wrist, Hand, and Finger Injuries

It is a natural reflex to try and break your fall or brace yourself for impact. That is why wrist, hand, and finger injuries are common in slip and fall accidents. Although they are not life-threatening, these injuries are extremely painful and can prevent you from working and engaging in typical daily activities.

The most common of these injuries are:

• Bruises, swelling, and cuts.
• Injuries to ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
• Broken or fractured fingers, thumb, wrist, and other bones in the hand.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Any significant blow, bump or jolt to the head that disrupts the normal function of the brain may result in a traumatic brain injury. Florida traumatic brain injuries can lead to paralysis and disability, as well as physical, emotional, or cognitive impairment. It is common for traumatic brain injury victims to need lifelong care. Victims can also slip into a coma or vegetative state.

According to the Mayo Clinic, typical symptoms of traumatic brain injury, including concussion, include:

• Headache that gets worse or does not go away
• Neck Pain
• Ringing in the Ears
• Dizziness
• Repeated Nausea or Vomiting
• Slurred Speech
• Dilated Pupils
• Convulsions or seizures
• Weakness or Numbness in the Arms and Legs
• Inability to awaken from Sleep

A medical professional should check all head injuries. A concussion is considered a mild type of traumatic brain injury.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are the result of trauma that crushes, dislocates, fractures, or in some way damages any part of the spinal cord, or the nerves at the end of the spinal canal. These traumatic injuries often cause paralysis and other changes in strength and body functions. Falls account for about 15 percent of spinal cord injuries.

Emergency signs and symptoms of a spinal cord injury after a slip and fall accident may include:

• Twisted or oddly positioned neck or back
• Extreme back pain or pressure in the neck, head, or back
• Weakness, in-coordination, or paralysis in any part of the body
• Intense pain or stinging along the spinal cord
• Numbness, tingling or loss of sensation in the hands, fingers, feet, or toes
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Difficulty breathing and/or clearing lungs

Spinal cord injuries are considered catastrophic and require trained first responders to avoid further damage to the spinal cord. If you suspect a spinal cord injury, Call 911.

People with spinal cord injuries can have complete or incomplete paralysis. They may be able to move their arms and upper body but cannot walk or move their pelvic area or legs. Spinal cord paralysis can also result in quadriplegia, which is the loss of all movement or sensation in the arms, legs, trunk, and pelvis.

The extent of your paralysis will depend on the severity of the spinal cord damage. People with spinal cord injuries typically need lifelong medical and domestic care. Your Fort Lauderdale slip and fall lawyer from the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato will fight for the compensation you deserve in order to pay for this kind of care.

Internal Bleeding

Slip and fall accidents can cause internal bleeding, particularly if you fall on a sharp object. Even blunt trauma can lead to internal bleeding, which can result in organ failure. Symptoms of internal bleeding may not be visible to the untrained eye. That is why you should be examined by a medical professional after a fall.

Here are common symptoms of internal bleeding that affect different organs and body parts:

• Internal bleeding of any kind causes light-headedness, dizziness, or fainting.
• Trauma to the liver or spleen can cause abdominal pain and/or swelling that worsens as bleeding continues.
• A broken or fractured bone can cause swelling, tightness, and pain in that area of the body.
• Another sign of internal bleeding is a large area of deeply purple skin called ecchymosis.
• Internal bleeding in the brain can lead to headaches, seizures, and loss of consciousness.

Herniated Discs

Slip and fall accidents are a leading cause of herniated discs. Your spine has discs between the individual bones or vertebrae. A herniated disc refers to a problem with one of the rubbery cushions (discs) between the individual bones (vertebrae). Spinal discs resemble a jelly donut, with a tougher exterior and soft center. If you fall and rupture this exterior, the soft center material pushes through the tear and presses on nerves.

A herniated disc can happen in the lower back or upper back and neck. Leg and buttock pain are common with a lower back injury, while the shoulder and arm pain are most common with a herniated disc in your neck.

The most common symptoms of a herniated disc include:

• Numbness or tingling in the affected areas
• Intense pain in your arm or leg
• Weakness and stumbling

Foot and Ankle Pain

If your accident was caused by tripping over a cable or electrical cord, you might break, fracture, or crush one or more of the many bones in your foot.

Other common feet and ankle injuries from a fall include:

• Rupture or tear in muscle, tendon, or ligaments
• Broken toe
• Stress fractures
• Sprained ankle

A foot injury can make it difficult to walk, stand, drive, or perform your daily tasks. Some foot and ankle injuries need surgery, and most require lengthy recovery time.

Call the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato for Questions After a Slip and Fall

You could be entitled to compensation for your slip and fall accident injuries and damages. For a free consultation, call the Florida personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato at (954) 633-8270.