The Relationship Between Falls and TBIs

By Grant Law Office on March 3, 2021

Slip-and-falls are almost always caused by negligence. Whether a public walkway hasn’t been cleared of ice, or a wet-floor sign wasn’t put down in a grocery store after an employee mopped, slip-and-falls are often not the fault of the victim.

This means that any injuries sustained during the fall, including brain damage, would be the negligent party’s fault.

Slip-and-Falls and the Brain

Most people write a slip-and-fall off as a minor accident. Falls are commonplace, after all. But slipping and tripping are very different kinds of falls, and that difference is important to understand. When you trip, it means you fall forward. You are able to stop the fall with your hands, taking a brunt of the force in your arms and hands, rather than the vulnerable parts of your body. Or you can catch yourself on a nearby object, rail, or piece of furniture. That will slow or completely stop your fall, keeping you from becoming injured.

On the other hand, when you slip, you often fall backward. When falling back, there is very little you can do to slow yourself down or stop yourself from hitting the ground. As a result, when you slip, you will usually hit the floor at full force. If the floor is made of a hard material, such as tile, concrete, or linoleum, then there is a very high chance that you will sustain serious injuries in the areas that made contact with the ground.

The most important body part in danger? The back of your head. While the brain is encased with thick bone called the skull, it isn’t impervious to damage. If enough force is exerted on the head, the brain will end up bruised or even torn, leading to serious traumatic brain injuries. Slip-and-falls, due to the fact that the back of the head usually makes contact with the floor, often results in brain injuries, which can be fatal if not treated immediately.

Serious Brain Injuries

There is no such thing as minor brain injuries. Even concussions, which most people view as easy to recover from, can lead to permanent damage if not treated properly. The problem following a slip-and-fall is that most people consider falls to be minor, and may ignore symptoms of a brain injury due to that bias. You should always be prepared to seek medical help after an accident, especially if you notice signs of brain damage. Common symptoms include:

• Severe headaches
• Vomiting and nausea
• Blurred vision
• Confusion
• Numbness in toes and fingers
• Slurred speech
• Tinnitus

In severe cases, you may even suffer a seizure or pass out. Knowing these symptoms can help save your life. Swelling in the brain can lead to cell death, and if too many cells go down, so will you. If you ever sustain a hard blow to your head, you should always consider the possibility that you now have a brain injury.

Seeking Medical Attention

A fall may seem like a minor accident. However, if you have slipped and fallen, hitting your head, then you should seek immediate medical attention. Even if you don’t notice symptoms of brain damage right away, you may still be suffering from a traumatic brain injury, such as a concussion. Shock and adrenaline can mask most symptoms, so you should never assume that you are uninjured following a fall.

Once you have made sure you are in good health, or have been given treatment for any of your injuries, you should then reach out to a skilled Atlanta personal injury attorney. We at Grant Law Office have worked with many slip-and-fall victims and gotten them the compensation they deserved. To hold the party liable for your injuries responsible, call us at (404) 995-3955 today.