Slip and fall accidents can happen to anyone. You could be shopping in the store or walking across your office just as you have done hundreds of times before, and anything from a spill to a loose floorboard could change your life in an instant.
How common are slip and fall injuries? According to the Mayo Clinic, more than 10 million people per year are injured in slip and fall accidents. Many of these injuries could have been avoided if it weren’t for another party’s negligence.
You can lessen your risk of being injured by keeping your house clean, wearing proper shoes for the surface you will be walking on, and keeping your house well-lit. Unfortunately, you can only control the environment in your own home. Any time you go out, you run the risk of one of the following types of injuries.
The 3 Most Serious Slip and Fall Injuries
If you slip and fall, it is likely that you will receive one of the following types of injuries.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are serious because they have the potential to lead to paralysis. This type of injury could result in no longer being able to walk and having to change everything about how you live, including possibly losing your ability to work and having to modify your home and vehicle. Spinal cord injuries can cause:
- Permanent paralysis
- Temporary paralysis
- Neurological impairment
- Sensory impairment
Falls cause more than one-quarter of all spinal injuries, and seniors over the age of 65 are especially vulnerable to this kind of injury. You can read more about other serious spinal injuries resulting from
Head Injuries
According to the Centers for Disease Control, falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI). TBI can happen after a fall if you strike your head on the ground or another object. A TBI can be mild, moderate, or severe, with the most severe injuries causing permanent brain injury.
Traumatic brain injury due to a fall can cause seizures, personality changes, and cognitive impairment. It can take two years to recover from a TBI, but more serious injuries can lead to 10 years of recovery.
Hip Fractures
Hip fractures are almost always caused by falls, and one out of every five seniors who breaks a hip will not survive the next year. A hip is a large bone, so this isn’t the kind of injury you can heal with a cast. Instead, breaking a hip means requiring surgery to place pins or plates on the hip to hold the bone together.
How Can I Sue For a Slip and Fall?
According to one Baton Rouge personal injury lawyer, to file a personal injury lawsuit, your case must meet the following conditions:
- You must show that you have been injured.
- You must show that you have suffered financial loss.
- You must show that the negligent party owed you a duty of care.
We all have some degree of duty of care toward others, but some people have a higher degree of duty of care.
An example of a common duty of care is that which goes along with driving. As a driver, you must pass a driver’s test, carry insurance, avoid texting while driving, and avoid driving while under the influence. If you fail to meet these conditions, you have failed in your duty of care and you can be held accountable.
An example of being held to a higher standard of duty of care is a store or business owner who fails to keep their premises safe. Another example is a doctor whose mistakes could maim or kill.
If you believe another party has failed in their duty of care toward you, you may want to consider speaking to an attorney to discuss your options.
