Slip-and-fall accidents claimed 39,433 lives in 2019 according to figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most of the people who trip over uneven paving stones or slip on pools of spilled liquid suffer only minor injuries, but these accidents can still be extremely dangerous. In addition to broken bones, shattered knees and dislocated shoulders, Indiana slip-and-fall accident victims can suffer serious head and back injuries.
Slip-and-fall accident injuries
Bone breaks and dislocations cause a great deal of pain, so they are usually diagnosed at accident scenes and treated promptly. Serious head injuries are sometimes missed at slip-and-fall accident scenes because symptoms like dizziness and confusion are often put down to shock and trauma. When these injures are not treated quickly, internal bleeding can cause the brain to swell dangerously. This is why it is always a good idea to seek medical treatment after striking the head.
Slip and fall accident lawsuits
Premises owners have a duty to do all that they reasonably can to keep their visitors safe, and they can be sued when they fail to meet this duty and a visitor suffers serious injuries as a direct consequence. When slip-and-fall accident injuries are severe, jury awards can be generous. In 2016, a Nevada jury awarded a woman almost $13 million to compensate her for slip-and-fall injuries. The woman suffered a fractured skull and permanently lost her senses of smell and taste when she slipped in a home improvement store.
Early treatment
Most slip-and-fall accident injuries are not life-threatening, but they can be very painful. If you ever slip on a sidewalk or inside a store, you should seek medical attention if you fall awkwardly or strike your head even if you feel fine. Injures that do not present symptoms immediately can become serious, but they usually respond well to early treatment.
