A slip and fall does not sound like a terrible accident. After all, everyone has fallen at one point or another. The fact is, these accidents can cause very serious injuries. Some of the injuries are obvious immediately, like a broken bone. Others may not seem so bad at first, but then quickly worsen. If you have slipped or tripped and fallen, you should seek medical attention right away. You may have one of these five common injuries:
- Head injuries. Head injuries can range from a minor concussion to a traumatic brain injury. Neither is pleasant, but you are more likely to fully recover from a minor concussion. You won’t know right away how severe your head injury is, and you should always have a doctor check it out, especially if you have bleeding, swelling or you lost consciousness, even for a short time. Other symptoms of a head injury include dizziness, nausea, and fatigue.
- Broken bones. As noted above, you will probably feel it right away if you have a broken bone, or even a bad sprain or strain. You won’t know, however, how severe your injury is without a doctor and an x-ray. The myth that “if you can wiggle it, it’s not broken” is untrue. In addition, broken bones can cause bleeding and swelling, complicating the treatment. The sooner you see a doctor, the better chance you have for recovery.
- Cuts and bruises. Sometimes these injuries are superficial, but they still may need stitches or other medical attention. These injuries can be painful, if not life-threatening. They may leave permanent scars, however.
- Spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord injury severity can vary, but always sounds frightening. If you injured your back in any way, you should see a doctor immediately. Symptoms of a spinal cord injury include problems moving, spasms, intense pain in your spine, and problems with bladder control. These symptoms can worsen over time as swelling increases in the injured area. These injuries can be severe, life threatening and permanent, and should be treated as soon as possible.
- Soft tissue injuries. You can receive a soft tissue injury anywhere on your body, but the most common areas for a fall include neck, back, knees and shoulders. You may twist your body when you fall to try to catch yourself or you may land on one of those areas when you fall. A fall can also cause whiplash to your neck. These injuries are harder to see, and you may not feel them immediately, as they tend to worsen over a few days.
Property owners in Nevada have a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe and secure or to notify people of an unsafe condition. If you were injured on someone’s property because the owner failed to do this, you may have a premises liability claim.