Some of the most common personal injury claims involve slip and fall accidents. A property owner has a duty to maintain safe conditions on the premises. Unfortunately, property owners can become complacent and hazardous conditions can go unaddressed for far too long. Slip and fall injuries can have serious and lasting health consequences for the victim. In turn, a victim may experience financial hardships due to rapidly piling up medical bills and the inability to go to work because of the injuries. If you have been injured due to negligent property conditions, you may seek compensation for your injuries.
What Are the Most Common Slip and Fall Causes and Injuries?
The most common injuries sustained in slip and falls span a wide range. The nature of the injury will largely depend on the cause of the fall and how the person actually made contact with the ground or surrounding area. For instance, broken bones are often sustained in a slip and fall. The impact of a fall can have such a stressful impact on the bone that the bone is unable to withstand it. Wrist fractures in slip and falls are especially common because it is a natural reflex for a person to try and brace themselves with their hand when they are falling. Sprains and strains in the wrist area are common in these types of cases for the same reason. Hip fractures are also common in slip and falls as landing directly on the hip joint is a usual point of initial contact the person’s body has with the ground.
If you twist and land a certain way when you fall, you may also end up with a serious knee injury. Ligament tears or dislocation of the patella can have devastating consequences that require immediate knee reconstruction. The need for surgery and extensive follow up physical therapy are common in knee injury cases. Additionally, if you fall and hit your shoulder or reach out to brace yourself as you fall, you may dislocate your shoulder or strain your muscles. A shoulder dislocation is likely to require immediate surgery as well as a lengthy follow-up treatment plan to ensure that your injury is properly addressed and given the best chances for healing.
Some of the scariest and most common slip and fall injuries involve head injuries such as traumatic brain injury. Your head does not need to hit the ground for a traumatic brain injury to occur, although that is commonly the case. The jolt to the brain can cause serious damage. These kinds of injuries can be especially tricky as you may not even know that you have this kind of injury or the full extent of the injury. Be clear with your doctor with all of the symptoms you are experiencing to make sure any traumatic brain injury is properly evaluated and treated accordingly.
How you fall and how you land can largely depend on the cause of the slip and fall. Some of the most common causes for slip and falls include:
- Wet or freshly waxed floors
- Damaged or loose flooring
- Potholes
- Unsalted ice
- Debris in walkways
- Poor lighting
- Cords running across walkways
- Lack of handrails
Pennsylvania Slip and Fall Attorneys
If you have been injured by a dangerous property condition, you may be able to bring a personal injury claim seeking compensation for your losses. At Cooper Schall & Levy, our personal injury attorneys fight for slip and fall victims. Contact us today.
