Sidewalk Fall Lawyer in Los Angeles, CA

What Injuries Are Common in a Slip-and-Fall?

Although pratfalls might be funny to Hollywood, in real life they are not only extremely painful but can require years of physical therapy to recover from. Some common injuries from falls include:

• Bruises and lacerations: These surface-level injuries can be painful, but do not usually cause long-term damage. Bruises may indicate deeper injuries that are not readily apparent, and cuts can become infected, so medical attention can still be appropriate with seemingly minor injuries.

• Broken bones: Broken bones are painful and can take months to heal. Professional medical care is usually necessary to reset the bone and ensure it is kept in place to mend. Some physical therapy may be needed after recovery, and broken bones can make daily behavior more difficult.

• Internal injuries: Damage to internal organs is not as easy to detect as cuts or broken bones. These injuries may become life-threatening if not found and treated quickly, and treatment may require surgery or other invasive procedures.

• Tissue injuries: Injuries to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments can be painful and seriously restrict movement for weeks or months. These injuries often require a long time to mend and may require surgery and physical therapy if the damage to the tissue was serious enough.

• Neck and shoulder injuries: Injuries to the neck and shoulder areas are common, especially if someone goes backwards in a slip. These injuries can be painful and have a severe impact on the quality of a person’s daily life. Chronic pain in the neck or shoulder can cause sleeplessness, and surgery and rehabilitation may be needed for full recovery.

• Spinal cord injuries: Minor damage to the spinal cord is not only extremely painful but requires emergency medical attention and treatment. Serious spinal cord injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis of the body, depending on the nature and location of the damage.

• Traumatic brain injuries: When a person strikes his head on the ground or another object after a fall, the brain takes the brunt of the damage. Brain injuries can have long-term consequences, such as loss of senses like sight or hearing, changes in personality and behavior, and difficulty with previously routine tasks. Serious brain injuries can result in a coma or be fatal.