While virtually everyone recognizes that a fall from a significant elevation is a risk. However, a same-level fall may not seem like a major safety concern. After all, pratfalls are often a punchline in modern entertainment. In the real world, a slip-and-fall at the grocery store could easily send someone to the hospital. People who fall due to unsafe property conditions at public locations can sustain a variety of major injuries.
Those who fall tend to tense up, which can lead to soft tissue injuries. They could potentially break bones. Older adults are at especially high risk of a fracture in a same-level fall. However, there is one injury in particular that could change someone’s life in a slip-and-fall scenario.
People could hit their heads
Most of the time, the worst-case scenario in a slip-and-fall incident involves someone hitting the floor, the wall or nearby fixtures with their face or head. Blunt force trauma to the head can cause bruising or swelling inside the skull.
Even if someone feels okay initially, the bleeding can continue over time. That puts pressure on the brain. The skull, which usually serves to protect the brain, means that swelling tissue has no place to go. Although it could be days after a slip-and-fall before someone notices major symptoms, they could be at risk of life-altering and permanent issues after hitting their heads.
Those who hit their heads may need to see a doctor
In a slip-and-fall scenario, many people try to brush themselves off and move on with their day as though nothing happened. That is a major mistake. There are several steps people want to take to protect themselves.
The first involves documenting what made them fall. If their phone is not broken, they can record video and take pictures of a spill or tripping hazard that caused their fall. They should then notify the manager on duty at the business of the incident and sign a report.
Finally, they may need to see a medical professional to diagnose or rule out a traumatic brain injury. If someone does have an injury, a diagnosis as soon as possible increases their chances of avoiding worsening symptoms over time.
The premises liability insurance that businesses and landlords carry can potentially help cover someone’s medical costs, lost wages and other losses created by a slip-and-fall. Understanding what injuries are possible could help people respond appropriately – both medically and legally – if they lose their balance in a public setting.