Are Brain Injuries Common After a Slip and Fall Accident?

Slip and fall accidents and trip and fall accidents are some of the most common types of premises liability claims. These types of premises liability cases typically involve someone slipping on a slippery substance or liquid. Additionally, people commonly trip over poorly maintained flooring or bunched up rugs, or they fall down a flight of stairs. These accidents happen at stores and businesses, restaurants, and in parking lots.

Although many slip and falls or trip and fall accidents don’t cause serious injuries, a lot of them do. This is especially true for individuals that are already suffering from health issues or who don’t have strong bones. Moreover, because these types of slip and fall accidents commonly occur on hard surfaces, they often result in traumatic brain injuries. If you’ve suffered brain injuries or any serious injuries as a result of a slip and fall in Florida, don’t hesitate to reach out to us and schedule your free consultation with an Orlando, Florida slip and fall attorney from our office.

Slip and Fall Accidents Commonly Cause Brain Injuries

People commonly break bones, tear ligaments, and suffer serious sprains and tears as a result of a slip and fall accident. In some of the more serious slip and falls, people suffer brain injuries. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls lead to nearly half of all traumatic brain injury (TBI)-related hospitalizations. Motor vehicle crashes and assaults are other common causes of TBIs.

Many people don’t know they’ve suffered a brain injury when it happens because the symptoms are not obvious. Therefore, if you think there is any chance you’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury, you should seek help right away. We have access to great medical providers, and we’re happy to put you in touch with the right people.

How Could a Slip and Fall Accident Cause a Brain Injury?

There are many ways a person could suffer a brain injury as a result of a slip and fall. When a person falls on their side or on their stomach, they may get their arms out to somewhat block the fall, but the arms often only stop the torso, while the head continues at the same speed as the fall and smacks the concrete. Similarly, when a person falls on their back, the torso and shoulders hit the ground and stop, while the momentum of the head continues downward, and smacks the head smacks the concrete. Some of the worst slip and fall brain injuries are caused by a fall down a flight of stairs because of the added speed and impact of the fall.

There are a couple of different ways a person may suffer a brain injury as a result of a slip and fall. First, a person may suffer a brain injury as a result of an impact that causes damage to the skull and brain. For example, if a person slipped and fell down a flight of stairs and hit their head on a concrete step, this could cause a brain injury. Second, a person could suffer a brain injury as a result of a jolting movement, like whiplash. Thus, a person could fall in such a way that their head is rapidly jerked in one direction or another, and this could cause a traumatic brain injury.

Brain Injuries Manifest in Many Different Ways and Can Be Difficult to Detect

If you were in a slip and fall accident, you may have suffered a brain injury, and you may not know it. This is because brain injuries are commonly misdiagnosed. Additionally, brain injury symptoms often do not show themselves until days or weeks after the slip and fall accident. Thus, brain injuries are not always immediately recognizable after a slip and fall.

A common misconception is that a loss of consciousness or a concussion is the only indication of a brain injury. However, there are many different symptoms associated with traumatic brain injuries, any of which could indicate a serious medical issue. Below are some of the more common symptoms associated with a traumatic brain injury after a slip and fall or trip and fall accident:

• Emotional changes
• Irritability
• Memory problems
• Nausea
• Difficulty speaking
• Headaches
• Sensitivity to light
• Sensitivity to sound
• Blurred vision
• Difficulty with focus or concentration
• Ringing in the ears
• Confusion
• Seizures or convulsions
• Difficulty with comprehension
• Changes in sleep

This is not a comprehensive list of traumatic brain injury symptoms. This is an abbreviated list to help you identify the more common symptoms of a brain injury. In other words, different people may experience different symptoms after a head injury. For example, children sometimes experience unique brain injury symptoms, like loss of appetite, change in sleeping patterns, fits and fussiness, prolonged crying, and loss of interest in toys or playing.

If you’ve experienced any brain injury symptoms, you should consider discussing this with your medical providers. That way, you can get treatment for your brain injury as soon as possible.

Contact a Florida Premises Liability Attorney to Help You with Your Slip and Fall Case

Brain injuries as a result of a slip and fall can be a huge burden for you and your family. These injuries often take a serious physical, emotional, and financial toll on you and the people closest to you. You and your loved ones shouldn’t have to bear that entire burden.