More than one million people in the U.S. go to the emergency room every year due to slip-and-fall injuries. New Jersey residents may injure themselves by slipping and falling in parking lots, sidewalks or even at work. While “slip and fall” may not sound serious, these types of injuries can be long-lasting or even fatal.
Broken Bones
A slip and fall may easily cause broken bones or fractures. The less severe version of these may involve a broken ankle. The more serious versions involve broken hips, which typically require surgery to repair.
Head and neck trauma
Damage to the head and neck often results in severe injuries that can take months or years in order to fully recover. These common head and neck injuries occur after a slip-and-fall accident:
- Whiplash
- Broken neck
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
A TBI may result in serious or mild effects. The mildest form of a TBI is a concussion, which may cause short-term headaches and confusion. A more severe TBI may result in hemorrhaging, swelling of the brain and any of these symptoms:
- Loss of consciousness
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Persistent headache
- Lack of energy
- Mood changes
- Memory problems
Spinal cord injuries
People left with permanent damage after a slip-and-fall accident often sustain spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord injuries typically cause severe pain and may cause permanent disability.
Soft tissue injuries
Soft tissue refers to muscles, tendons and ligaments. These types of injuries may result in bruising, swelling and pain. Chronic pain often results from soft tissue injuries.
Long-term effects
As the victim of a slip-and-fall accident, you may experience chronic pain or an inability to return to your previous standard of living. Major medical bills and ongoing treatments may become a necessity to address the most common types of slip-and-fall injuries.