We’ve all seen the cartoons: someone slips on a banana peel, their legs fly up in the air, and they land flat on their back with stars circling their head. It’s played for laughs, and honestly, most of us have taken a tumble at some point that we walked away from with nothing more than a bruised ego.
But what those cartoons don’t show you is that slip and fall accidents are actually one of the leading causes of serious injuries in the United States. We’re not talking about a little soreness that goes away in a day or two. We’re talking about life-altering injuries that can affect you for months, years, or even permanently.
In this article, our slip and fall injury lawyers will discuss serious injury risks and how to get proper care and compensation.
Serious Injury Risks from Falls
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
When you think of the causes of brain injuries, you may think of a car accident or an object striking the head. But when you fall, especially if you fall backward, your head can strike the ground with significant force. Even if you don’t lose consciousness, you can sustain a concussion or more severe brain injury.
The scary thing about TBIs is that symptoms might not show up immediately. You might feel fine at first, then hours or days later start experiencing headaches, dizziness, confusion, or memory problems. Some people never fully recover from severe TBIs and are left to deal with long-term cognitive issues that affect their ability to work and live independently.
Back Injuries
When you fall hard, especially on stairs or from any height, your back bones (vertebrae) can fracture, or the discs between them can herniate. This can lead to chronic pain, limited mobility, and surgeries. These injuries can require months of recovery, extensive physical therapy, and potentially permanent limitations.
In severe cases, a fall can cause partial or complete paralysis.
Hip Injuries
Here’s a sobering statistic: Among elderly patients, hip fractures have a significant mortality rate within the first year after injury, and many survivors never regain their previous level of mobility.
While hip fractures are especially devastating for older adults, they can take a serious toll on younger adults, too, involving surgery, months of rehabilitation, and a real risk of developing arthritis or chronic pain in that joint.
Broken Bones and Fractures
When you instinctively try to catch yourself during a fall, you may end up with broken wrists, arms, or collarbones. Broken legs, ankles, and ribs are also common. While these might sound less serious than brain or spinal injuries, don’t underestimate them.
A bad fracture can require surgery, pins, plates, or rods. Complications like infections or improper healing can mean multiple procedures. Some fractures never heal quite right, leaving you with chronic pain or reduced function in that limb.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Torn ligaments, tendons, and muscles might not sound like a big deal, but ask anyone who’s torn their ACL or rotator cuff, and you’ll likely get an earful about the intensity of these injuries. They’re painful, they limit your mobility, and they often require surgery followed by extensive physical therapy. Some people never regain full range of motion or strength after soft tissue injuries.
What Should You Do If You’re Seriously Injured?
Get Medical Attention Immediately
Call 911 if the fall was severe, if you hit your head, if you can’t get up, or if you’re experiencing severe pain. Otherwise, get yourself to an emergency room or urgent care facility as soon as possible.
Don’t wait to see if you feel better. Don’t tough it out. Don’t worry about the cost or the inconvenience. You should even get seen if your injuries seem minor because some serious injuries may not manifest until later. A doctor can help catch serious injuries early and keep you from doing things that might worsen them.
If your doctor recommends diagnostic testing, get it done. This will not only help you heal but also provide critical information for your legal claim. Remember that insurance companies want to find every way possible to deny or devalue your claim. One of the ways they may do this is to make it seem like your injuries are 1) not as bad as you claim or 2) not tied to your slip and fall but to some other health issue or accident. Early and thorough testing helps strengthen your claim.
Another reason to get immediate care is that some injuries, particularly brain injuries, can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. Others, like spinal injuries, can get worse if you move around before being properly evaluated. Even if you think you’re fine, adrenaline can mask serious injuries in the immediate aftermath of an accident.
Document Everything
If you are well enough to document the accident scene, do so right away. Otherwise, get someone to help you.
Take photos of what caused your fall: the wet floor, the broken step, the uneven pavement, debris left on the ground, etc. Get photos of the surrounding area, too.
If there were witnesses, get their contact information. Their statements might be crucial later if you need to prove negligence.
Take photos of your injuries as they develop. It’s also a good idea to keep an injury journal. Document your pain levels and write down how your injury affects your ability to function at home and at work. If your symptoms change or worsen, record that, too.
And finally, keep every medical record, bill, and receipt related to your injury.
Report the Incident
If you fell at a business, apartment complex, workplace, or any property that’s not your own home, report the incident to whoever’s in charge.
Don’t just let them say “we’ll take care of it” without any formal documentation. You need a paper trail. Make sure they get a detailed accident report and get a copy of the report if possible.
Watch What You Say
Be careful about apologizing or saying things like “I’m so clumsy” or “I wasn’t watching where I was going.” Even if you’re just being polite or you’re embarrassed, these statements can be used against you later to argue the fall was your fault.
You can be courteous without admitting fault. Stick to the facts: “I slipped on the wet floor” or “I tripped on the broken tile” without adding your own speculation about fault or liability.
This is especially important if you’re talking to an insurance representative. They may go out of their way to get you to admit something that could jeopardize your case and minimize their payout.
Consult with a Personal Injury Attorney
Look for a premises liability attorney in Las Vegas. Most offer free consultations, and many work on contingency, meaning they don’t get paid unless you win your case.
An experienced attorney can tell you whether you have a valid claim and what it might be worth, and handle all the complicated negotiations with insurance companies while you focus on recovering.
The earlier you get an attorney involved, the better. Most offer free consultations, so there’s not much to lose. Evidence has a tendency to disappear, and witnesses’ memories get fuzzy over time. An attorney can help you lock in key evidence while the details are still fresh.
Don’t Rush to Settle
If you fell on someone else’s property, their insurance company might contact you quickly with a settlement offer. It might even sound generous, but don’t take it without talking to an attorney first.
Insurance companies will often try to get you to settle before you know the full extent of your injuries. What if that back pain turns out to be a herniated disc requiring surgery? What if those headaches are a sign of a more serious brain injury? Once you settle, you typically can’t come back and ask for more money even if your injuries turn out to be worse than you initially thought.
Slips and Falls Can Be Serious Business
Don’t take slips and fall accidents lightly. They might happen in a split second, but they can leave you with long-term consequences. Taking the right steps and getting the right help can make all the difference for your health and financial future.