Slip-and-falls or same-level falls are relatively common occurrences. Many people slip in their own homes or their places of employment. Others might slip on their way to the bathroom at a business or while shopping at a department store.
Frequently, slip-and-falls are only minorly inconvenient. The person who falls sustains bruises or other minor injuries and simply moves on with their day. Some slip-and-falls have more serious consequences. People can sustain soft tissue injuries or broken bones when they fall. Occasionally, a slip-and-fall incident is so severe that it causes a permanent, potentially life-altering injury to a person who loses their traction because of slippery surfaces or spilled fluids.
People who fall can hurt their brains
Many of the common injuries associated with slip-and-fall are the result of people trying to stop themselves from falling. The worst possible outcome occurs when an individual cannot slow themselves and instead strikes the floor, a nearby wall or even store fixtures as they fall.
People who experience blunt-force trauma to the head in a slip-and-fall scenario could incur traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Unlike a broken bone or a soft tissue injury, a moderate or severe TBI is a permanent medical condition that does not fully respond to medical treatment. At best, medical professionals can offer care that can prevent the brain injury from worsening due to increasing pressure on the brain caused by bleeding or inflammation.
People who develop TBIs frequently have permanent symptoms that affect their daily lives and even their ability to continue pursuing their careers. One of the factors that makes a TBI from a slip-and-fall so devastating is that the injured person may not notice until days later. They might leave the store without reporting the incident. They may not see a healthcare professional either.
That person may then face a challenging process if they hope to hold the business with unsafe facilities accountable. If a person who falls hits their head, blacks out or develops a headache shortly after falling, there may be reason to worry about the possibility of a TBI. They may need to report the matter to management, make an appointment with a medical professional and take appropriate steps if they have injured their brain.
Connecting a brain injury to a slip-and-fall at a store can help an injured person hold the right party accountable. Businesses that don’t keep facilities safe for customers may be liable if people get hurt as a result of their negligent practices.
