You know, when you think about really bad stuff happening, you might think of big storms or car crashes, right? But what about just slipping on some ice or a wet floor at the store?
Well, here in Canada, those slips and falls are a big deal. They’re actually one of the main reasons people end up getting hurt, just like car accidents.
Can you believe it? About a third of all trips to the emergency room in Canada are because of people taking a spill. It can happen anywhere, like at the store or even just outside your house. Even if it seems like a little slip, it can lead to serious injuries that cost a ton to fix, make you miss work, and take a long time to get better. Let’s discuss four common types of injuries from those slip and fall accidents.
- Back and Neck Injuries: Back injuries from slipping, tripping, and falling are divided into two main categories: mild and severe. The milder trauma may include sprains and strains, while the most dangerous ones mostly end in spinal cord damage and ruptured disks. These sorts of injuries can by far be the most devastating, as they may cause constant pain, obstacles in moving, and, in worst cases, paralysis, which can no longer be undone. Neck injuries are also cause for alarm as they can lead to whiplash, neck strains, and even vertebral fractures. Not only do these injuries bring physical pain but also mental distress and financial impairment due to temporary joblessness and medical bills.
- Fractures: Slip and fall accidents may provoke many types of fractures ranging from the arm, leg, hip, and wrist regions of the body. A simple fracture is when the bone breaks neatly, while a complex fracture is when the bone pierces the skin. These are types of fractures that are often very common. Fractures lead to unbearable pain, swelling, bruising, and movement restriction, regardless of the type of fracture. Fractures from slip and fall accidents may become permanently painful and greatly reduce the quality of life, which is especially common among older persons.
- Head and Brain Trauma: As slip and fall accidents often lead to brain injuries, the resulting health risks and long-term effects may be quite sizable for the involved persons. Trauma to the brain can be very different in severity, from minor to serious concussions encountered in a slip and fall incident. Even what appears to be a mild blow to the head, regardless of its strength, can lead to severe brain injuries as it impairs motor capabilities, emotional stability, and cognitive abilities. Concussion effects can present as headaches, nausea, dizziness, and disorientation, as well as serious consequences like fainting or loss of consciousness. They may not manifest immediately, but a negative impact on language and cognitive skills can be seen in the long term. Slip and fall victims and their families endure detrimental life-changing years of pain from the effects of brain damage sustained in these encounters. People may need assisted living, expensive medical expenditure, and rehabilitation, too, based on the severity of the damages. The pain at the personal level of the victims and their families may be multiplied by the pressures that accumulate because of unpaid hospital bills and missed work.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: A slip and fall accident can lead to soft tissue injuries that are diverse in character and degree. These injuries include relatively minor sprains and strains or more serious ones, which include tears and rips. These injuries can cause severe damage, leading to persistent pain, swelling, stiffness, and range of motion problems. In soft tissue injuries, the victim may sometimes be left with long-term impairment and chronic pain, thus negatively impacting the quality of their life and capability to carry out daily tasks.
Developing a recovery plan for soft-tissue injuries following a fall incident typically involves medical intervention, i.e., rest, physical therapy, medication, and, in the worst case – surgery. These recovery programs aim to give patients the ability to walk properly and return to their regular lives again, as the main objectives of the regimen are to reduce pain, restore movement, and facilitate the healing process.
When Should You Consult a Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer?
The first thing you ought to do if you are hurt in a fall is to get medical help and then get it treated on time. Eliminating further damages to your health by consulting a doctor promptly comes with an extra benefit: the potential for your doctor to accurately record the particulars and degree of your injury. Such a fact could be a touchstone of your lawsuit.
This brings us to our second recommendation for what to do in the event of a slip and fall: connect with a personal injury lawyer. Subsequently, the personal injury lawyer will conduct thorough research on the accident scene and determine the guilty party. You are permitted to pursue legal action against the individual who is at fault and demand payment for all damages, which is financial compensation for any losses you have already suffered and any suffering that might result from the accident and the resulting injuries. Your strongest shield to get a fair settlement for injuries is an experienced slip and fall accident lawyer.
At MacIsaac Gow LLP, we understand how detrimental a slip and fall could be to your life and career. Our commitment is to get you fair compensation for your injuries, and we are here to help. Reach out right now for more information about what we can offer you.
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