Common Injuries From a Slip and Fall in California
Slips and falls are serious incidents in California, and they can lead to severe injuries. In many cases, the incidents can be life-altering, especially for members of the elderly population. In some situations, individuals may never fully recover from a particularly serious slip and fall. A slip and fall can be painful and distressing, but this type of injury can be even more frustrating when you know that it could have been prevented. If someone else’s negligence contributed to or caused your slip and fall, you are fully within your rights to seek compensation in the form of a settlement. Your settlement can help you cover economic damages such as medical bills and lost wages, and it can also cover non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
If you are serious about receiving a fair, adequate settlement amount, it is important to enlist the help of a qualified personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Team up with a skilled, experienced lawyer and you will stand a much better chance of receiving a settlement amount that will cover your damages. These legal experts can guide you through the entire process of filing a claim or pursuing a personal injury lawsuit, and they can employ a range of effective strategies. Reaching out to a dependable personal injury attorney in California should be a top priority after you suffer an injury related to a slip and fall.
While a wide range of injuries may occur after a slip and fall, there are a few ailments that are especially common after this type of incident. While some are relatively minor, others can be quite serious – even life-threatening. Learning more about these injuries can help you understand the full consequences of a slip and fall. The potential impact of these injuries on your life shows just how important it is to take legal action.
Injuries to the Wrists and Hands
When slipping or falling, the first instinct for many people is to outstretch their arms in an effort to cushion the fall. While this often succeeds in preventing injuries to more sensitive areas of the body, it can also result in serious damage to the hands and wrists. When people outstretch their arms to meet the upcoming ground, the wrist often takes the full force of the impact. This may cause the wrist to bend backwards, resulting in a sprain or fracture. In some cases, the fingers may absorb most of the impact instead. This can also result in sprains or fractures. These injuries can be painful, and they may take a long time to heal. During this healing period, individuals may miss significant time from work. After all, most of us rely heavily on our hands for everyday tasks.
Head Injuries
If individuals fail to cushion the impact of a fall with their arms, the cranium can strike the ground unprotected. This can lead to traumatic brain injury. Brain damage can lead to all kinds of health consequences, and it can seriously impact the quality of your life going forward. Some individuals even experience personality changes and reduced cognitive abilities. This can affect your ability to work and pursue a meaningful life. Head injuries may also be difficult to spot, which is so important to get medical tests done, even if you believe that you have not suffered any injuries after a fall.
Hip Fractures
More than 95% of all hip fractures among older adults are caused by falls. These injuries often occur when individuals fall sideways rather than forwards or backward. In addition, women are particularly at risk for hip fractures and falls. The female population falls more often than men, and they also have a higher risk of osteoporosis. This disease weakens the hip bones and makes them more brittle and vulnerable.
Hip fractures are not only extremely painful, but they also make it difficult to walk or even stand for a prolonged period of time. The hip cannot bear any weight, which means that individuals will be confined to a hospital bed after suffering this injury. In some cases, parts of the hip may need to be surgically removed and replaced with an implant.
Why Falls are Even More Serious for Older Individuals
A fall can be a serious injury, regardless of how old the individual is. That being said, things can become considerably more severe when an elderly individual slips and falls. This older population is particularly vulnerable to consequences that others may not experience. One in four Americans older than 65 falls each year, and it is one of the leading causes of death among this segment of the population.
These individuals may be more susceptible to falls because of reduced body strength, use of certain medication, vision problems, and difficulty walking. Elderly people may also be more vulnerable to infections during their hospital stay, which can lead to things like sepsis and pneumonia.
Premises Liability
Premises liability is another important concept in the context of slips and falls in California. The state’s premises liability laws clearly state that a property owner is responsible for maintaining a safe environment for members of the public who might be on their property. This is a legal obligation – a duty of care. If they fail to carry out this duty of care, they become liable for any injuries that you might have incurred. Slips and falls are often caused by negligence on the part of the property owner, such as failing to clean up spills or leaving debris scattered across walking paths.
Enlist the Help of a Qualified Attorney Today
If you have been searching the San Francisco area for a qualified, experienced personal injury attorney, look no further than Mary Alexander & Associates, P.C. We can assist you with virtually every aspect of your personal injury claim or lawsuit, and we will make sure that you receive a fair, adequate settlement amount that will cover all of your economic and non-economic damages. We have specific experience with slips and falls in California, and we have developed a range of effective strategies that have helped countless innocent victims seek justice in the past.
