Seven of the Most Common Injuries from Slips and Falls

Seven of the Most Common Injuries from Slips and Falls

• October 24, 2016
• Categories: Personal Injury

California Attorneys for Slip and Fall Victims

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 800,000 Americans are hospitalized each year for slip and fall injuries. That figure doesn’t include an additional eight million visits to emergency rooms for slip and fall injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall incident, it’s essential to consult with an experienced attorney for slip and fall incidents to understand your legal options and seek the compensation you may deserve. It’s a dangerous world out there and it’s also an expensive one. According to at least one study, direct medical costs for fall injuries, adjusted for inflation, are $31 billion annually. Here are seven of the most common injuries that result from slip and falls:

1. Sprains

While sprains are not nearly as serious as some of the other common slip and fall injuries, they can be extremely painful and debilitating nonetheless. Typical sprains occur in the ankle and foot, as well as the knee. Somewhat less common are sprained wrists, often sustained when the fall victim attempts to protect himself or herself from the impact of the floor.

2. Fractures

Hard falls often result in fractures, particularly of the forearm, leg, ankle, upper arm, wrist, and hand. The risk of fracture rises significantly as we age. The CDC reports that the majority of fractures in older adults are caused by falls.

3. Injuries to the Shoulder Area

Hard falls also can cause various injuries to the shoulder area. Fractures commonly involve the clavicle (collar bone), proximal humerus (top of the upper arm bone), and scapula (shoulder blade). Dislocations occur when the bones on opposite sides of a joint do not line up. Such dislocations can involve any of three different joints. In addition to fractures and dislocations, fall victims often sustain soft-tissue injuries – tears of the ligaments, tendons, muscles, and joint capsule of the shoulder, such as rotator cuff tears and labral tears.

4. Hip Injuries, Particularly Fractures

According to the CDC, approximately 95 percent of all hip fractures are caused by falls. A serious injury, hip fractures usually require surgery and hospitalization. In most cases, the hip fracture patient must then undergo extensive rehabilitation. One out of five hip fracture patients dies within a year of the injury.

5. Back

Falls often cause soft tissue injuries to the lower back, particularly when the fall victim lands in an awkward position. Slips on ice are particularly likely to result in these sorts of back strains. While most people recover fully, these injuries are extremely painful and require time to heal thoroughly. Falls can damage vertebrae as well.

6. Spinal Cord Injuries

Among the most serious injuries resulting from falls are those to the spinal cord. Depending upon a number of factors, including where along the spinal column the injury occurs, a spinal cord injury can result in partial or full paralysis, including total loss of function or sensation in affected parts of the body.

7. Head injuries

According to CDC statistics, falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI). At one end of the spectrum are concussions that may clear up after a few weeks’ rest. Some falls cause much more serious TBIs, however, such as a hematoma within the brain or a brain hemorrhage. These injuries can result in significant brain damage and even death. If you or a loved one has suffered a serious brain injury due to a fall, it’s important to consult with an experienced brain injury lawyer who can provide guidance on legal options and potential compensation.

Skilled Legal Counsel is Generally a Key to Recovery in Slip and Fall Cases

In most cases, a slip and fall victim will find it impractical or even impossible to pursue the claim on his or her own. Expert legal counsel is usually required. The attorneys at Neale & Fhima APC have provided skilled, aggressive, and sympathetic legal representation to injury victims for many years. Working in Dana Point, San Diego, and Los Angeles, our firm, comprised of experienced personal injury attorneys, has a long and successful track record in representing persons who have sustained personal injury. In fact, Matt Neale has helped clients recover more than $40 million in damages during his decades as an attorney. He is a tough negotiator and litigator. Well-respected by judges and other attorneys in the Southern California legal community, he has the skills to take his clients’ cases to trial. Aaron Fhima has a long record of success, as well. Accident claim lawyers are well aware that there are time limits for filing slip and fall claims. Don’t delay. Request a free consultation by calling us at 1-888-407-2955 or completing our online form.