The slip and fall are some of the more infamous injuries that can occur. You probably know someone who has slipped and fallen at some point, or you might have done it yourself. There are always dangerous conditions out there, and you need to watch out for them whenever possible.
If you slip and fall, it can change your life in ways you never anticipated. We’ll look at some of those right now.
How Often Do Unintentional Falls Occur?
You might actually have no idea how often slip-and-fall accidents occur, but the numbers may surprise you. For instance, the California Department of Health says that more than 90,000 adults over the age of 50 must visit state hospitals each year because of fall-related injuries.
Some falls happen because people are not paying attention as closely as they should, but it’s not always the injured individual’s fault. Sometimes, other people or establishments leave dangerous conditions, and a passing pedestrian suffers the consequences.
What Conditions Cause Slip-and-Fall Accidents?
There are various conditions which you should beware of. You might encounter a cracked or uneven sidewalk. Malfunctioning escalators can be deadly, and there are always wet floors in stores or other establishments.
You might fall if you step on some uncleared debris in a driveway or parking lot. A loose handrail can cause a fall. A broken or loose step could as well.
If you visit someone who lives in an older structure, you can fall if you step on broken tiles, ripped carpeting, or cracked hardwood. You’ll need to decide whether to bring a lawsuit against them for negligence.
How Might Your Life Change After a Slip-and-Fall?
If you slip and fall, you might sustain various injuries. You can break a bone, or you might suffer a concussion if you hit your head. You could suffer spinal cord damage, which might make walking or other activities difficult.
You’d hope the injury will not put you on the shelf for too long. You might have to put some ice on it for a few days, and you’ll be as good as new.
However, some slip-and-fall accidents can cause permanent damage. If that happens, you might need a cane or a walker to get around. You might even need a wheelchair.
If you strike your head, you might suffer short-term memory loss. You may endure mood swings or personality changes. You might suffer depression, as well.
Other Changes
You might not be able to do the same work that you once could. If you have a construction job, for instance, you may not be able to do it for days or weeks after the slip and fall. If you have a back injury or a broken bone, you might not be able to do a food service or retail industry job.
A broken wrist could prevent you from writing or doing computer-related work. Even if you recover to some extent, you might have pain from that point forward.
What Can You Do About All This?
If you fell while on your property, you probably can’t do very much other than pay the medical bills and try to get on with your life. If you caused the dangerous condition, there’s no one else to hold liable.
If you fell while you were on someone else’s property, though, you might at least consider bringing legal action against them. You can hire a lawyer if you feel like negligence or an unsafe condition caused your accident.
You might not be a very litigious person. Few people like hiring a lawyer, going to court, and sitting through a trial.
Still, it might be the best option for you. If you don’t do it, you have to pay for all your medical bills and related expenses yourself. If someone else’s negligence caused your injury, there’s no reason you should pay for that yourself.
The only time you may hesitate is if you were on a relative’s property when you slipped and fell. If that’s what happened, you might cause a family rift if you sue them.
Regardless of what you elect to do about it, it can be hard coming to terms with your new life after a slip-and-fall injury. You might deal with some depression or wonder why this happened to you.
Bad luck is something that occurs, and everyone has to deal with it at some point. If you stay positive, you should be able to overcome this unfortunate occurrence.
