Slip and fall accidents can cause various injuries, including sprained ankles, shoulder dislocations, and knee injuries. Traumatic brain injuries are one of the most serious types of injuries caused by slip and fall accidents. Victims of traumatic brain injuries face lengthy recoveries, expensive medical bills, and ongoing therapy. Severe traumatic brain injuries can require continuous skilled nursing care.
Types of Slip and Fall Accidents That Can Result in Traumatic Brain Injuries
Slip and fall accidents can occur nearly anywhere in nearly any circumstance. When a victim catches himself or herself with her hands while falling, his or her head may slam against a hard floor, causing a traumatic brain injury. When victims fall backward after slipping on a wet surface, they often cannot stop themselves. Victims’ heads can fall back and crash against the floor. The following slip and fall scenarios can result in head trauma:
- Slipping and falling in a store and hitting your head on a shelf as you are falling
- Tripping on a wet or icy sidewalk and striking your head on the way down
- Tripping on a cracked sidewalk and hitting your head on the way down
- Slipping on a piece of debris on the sidewalk and hitting your head on the way down
- Falling inside another person’s home and your head strikes a table or chair as you fall
- Slipping on wet flooring then falling flat on your back and your head hits the ground
Types of Head Injuries
Every head injury is unique and ranges from minor concussions that resolve a few weeks to deadly traumatic brain injuries (TBI). The severity of a slip and fall-related head injury will determine what type of treatment the victim will require. In some cases, victims can recover from their TBI-related symptoms. In other cases, a victim’s symptoms last a lifetime. Below are some of the most common types of head injuries caused by slip and fall accidents:
- Concussion: This type of injury can happen when a person’s head hits another object or the ground during a fall accident. Concussions can occur even when a victim does not lose consciousness. Recent research has shown that even mild concussions can have significant, ongoing symptoms, such as loss of concentration and memory.
- Contusions: This type of injury is a bruise to the brain that can result in a brain hemorrhage. Contusions often happen when the victim strikes their head during a fall and can require surgery.
- Hematoma: A hematoma occurs when the brain’s outer blood vessels become damaged. Hematomas are blood clots that pressure brain tissue. When doctors must remove hematomas, the victim can suffer from permanently lost brain function. Treatment usually involves brain surgery.
Contact a Missouri TBI Lawyer Today
If you or your loved one has suffered a TBI injury in a slip and fall accident, the lawyers at Griggs Injury Law are here to help. We have a proven track record of obtaining compensation on behalf of our clients. Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation.
