Of all the kinds of accidents you can suffer, a slip-and-fall may be the most misunderstood. People slipping and falling has long been a visual punch line in television and films, so a surprising number of people don’t understand that slip-and-falls can result in severe, even life-altering injuries.
Every year, millions of Americans slip on dirty or wet floors and fall. A portion of those people will suffer serious injuries. What are two of the more common serious injuries people can suffer if they slip and fall?
Fractured or broken bones
Broken bones or fractures are a risk any time someone falls, but especially if they are over the age of 55. Older adults have lower bone density and are at higher risk of a fracture when they fall.
Even someone in the prime of life could break an arm or a leg when they fall if they flail their limbs or strike something. As many as 5% of reported slip-and-falls result in broken bones.
Traumatic brain injuries
Although someone could break a bone trying to catch themselves when they fall, not trying to slow your descent could lead to even more serious injuries. If someone falls backward or simply cannot stop themselves on their way down, they could suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
TBIs are often the result of blunt force trauma that causes bleeding or swelling of the brain. The longer it takes someone to receive treatment for a TBI, the worse their symptoms may become as the swelling of their brain continues.
Sometimes, you won’t notice a brain injury right away after a fall. Some people might even walk away with a fracture that is stable without recognizing that they need medical help. Reporting a slip-and-fall when it happens protects the right to seek compensation if you notice troublesome injuries later.