When you think of a slip-and-fall accident, you may picture it as a minor bump on the knee or a bruised buttock, walking away with only slight damage to our egos and the physical marks to show for it. But in some cases, your fall could have a lasting effect on one of the most complex organs in the body – the brain.
Brain injuries are among the most severe outcomes of a slip-and-fall accident. According to a 2019 study by the Centers for Disease Control, nearly half of all traumatic brain injury (TBI)- related emergency room visits were due to a fall.
For those 65 and over, 81% of TBI-related ER visits were due to a fall-related incident.
Although we can occasionally fall victim to our clumsiness, what happens when a fall is caused by another’s negligence?
Keep reading to learn about the dangerous connection between falls and brain injuries and how our team at Hoffman Law Firm can aid in your recovery.
How Does a Slip and Fall Affect the Brain?
During a fall, instinct may have us put our arms out to help cushion the eventual blow. However, time isn’t always on our side, so contact with the ground might come faster than our hands can move.
Head injuries can occur if your head strikes the floor or by making contact with an object on the way down, such as a table, countertop, or piece of furniture. When your head hits a hard object, the force is transferred from your skull to your brain.
The force can result in either of two head injury categories: closed-head injuries and open-head injuries.
Open-Head Injuries
Open-head injuries are a clear indication that your head has taken a hit. These injuries penetrate the protective barrier of the skull and enter the brain. These injuries are most common when high rates of speed are involved, such as a high-speed car collision.
Due to the nature and force needed to penetrate the skull, these injuries are more severe and therefore have a higher fatality rate.
Closed-Head Injuries
Closed-head injuries are common to slip and fall accidents, caused by blunt force trauma or striking the head on an object during a fall. In these injuries, the skull isn’t broken, but bleeding of the scalp is a possibility.
However, don’t dismiss a limited injury as a sign that everything is okay. Closed-head injuries can range from mild to more severe, with the potential for lifelong complications.
Types of Head Injuries Caused by Slip and Fall Accidents
While closed-head injuries are more common in slip-and-fall accidents – and lower risk for complication – there is still the potential for serious injuries to occur. Some of the most common head injuries in slip-and-fall accidents include:
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
A TBI occurs when the brain bounces off the interior surface of the skull, resulting in something as simple as a headache or as severe as a contusion. Contusions, or bruising on the brain, can lead to permanent changes in brain function and life-altering effects.
Edema
Edema is defined as brain swelling. While other areas of the body can stretch to accommodate swelling, the skull cannot. This can cause increased pressure to build and brain tissue to press against the skull. The presence of Edema is a cause for emergency and can be life-threatening.
Hematoma
A hematoma is blood clotting that has pooled outside of the blood vessels. Clotting can cause pressure to build up inside of the skull, resulting in a loss of consciousness or permanent brain damage. There are different types of hematomas named for different areas where blood pools in the brain, but all can have severe consequences if left untreated.
Lacerations
Lacerations, or cuts to the scalp, are common head injuries, especially in slip and fall accidents. Scalp lacerations require direct pressure after a fall, followed by stitches, staples, or glue to close the wound by a medical professional.
Skull Fractures
The skull, although a very strong bone, can suffer a breakage with enough force. If there is a suspected skull fracture, it’s important to seek medical care immediately.
If you have suffered a head injury, whether a minor cut or a fracture, seek the help of a medical professional immediately. This will not only aid in your recovery but help your slip-and-fall attorney seek compensation for your injuries when the time comes.
Warning Signs of a Traumatic Brain Injury
While blood from a cut on the head is a clear indication that something’s wrong, not all head injuries are visible. Due to the invisible threat, it’s important to be alert and aware of the warning signs of a brain injury.
Symptoms and signs of a traumatic brain injury can include:
- Headaches and migraines that worsen over time
- Impaired mobility
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Loss of consciousness
- Inability to focus the eyes
- Changes to sensory perceptions, including hearing and taste
Often, brain injuries can impact our emotional responses, memory, or speech. Slurred speech, memory loss, or mood changes are all potential signs of a head injury.
If you have suffered from a slip and fall accident and are experiencing any of the above symptoms, seek medical help immediately.
Don’t Let the Force of a Fall Keep You Off Your Feet – Add a Charleston Slip and Fall Lawyer to Your Recovery Team Today
Head injuries have the potential to knock your entire world off balance. From financial hurdles to physical setbacks, head injuries from a slip and fall accident can be overwhelming and devastating.
Here at Hoffman Law Firm, we understand how stressful and debilitating a brain injury can be. Having a Charleston personal injury lawyer on your team can help aid in your recovery, taking control of the legal process, and easing some of the strain put on your financial and emotional wellbeing.
Talk to a traumatic brain injury lawyer at Hoffman Law Firm to help you get your life back on track after a slip and fall accident today.