Slip, trip, and fall accidents can happen anywhere—in the home, while walking across the parking lot to work, in a grocery aisle, or at a restaurant. Depending on where it happened, and how it happened, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. These damages include your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and more. The largest of your damages will most likely be the medical costs of the injury, and the pain and suffering that it causes. These two damages are directly related to the type of injury you sustained, the severity of it, and any complications that keep it from healing properly, such as old age. If you slipped, tripped, or fell on another person’s property, or at work, you need to contact a Philadelphia injury attorney, especially if you suffered any of the following types of injuries.
Shoulder Injuries
Because our reflexes are to stick our hand out when we lose balance and fall, injuries are common to the shoulder, which often takes the brunt of the impact. Injuries to the shoulder can be to the soft tissue or bone, or both. Bone is typically easier to fix than a soft tissue injury to the cartilage or tendons. Common shoulder injuries include dislocated shoulder, broken collarbone (clavicle), torn rotator cuff tendon, and superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) tear.
Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is damage to the brain tissue, with serious TBIs resulting from bruised, torn, bleeding, or other damages to the brain tissue, according to Mayo Clinic. Most people think of a concussion when they think of brain injuries, which is just one kind of TBI. TBIs cannot always be fixed, and the victim may end up living for years or their entire lifetime with serious TBI symptoms, such as forgetfulness, headache, inability to sleep, sleeping too much, irritability, and overall reduced cognitive ability.
Back Injuries
Spinal cord injuries, bulging or herniated discs, and soft tissue damage to muscle— are all examples of back injuries from slip and fall accidents. Back injuries and pain cannot always be fixed or alleviated. While the initial injury may have healed, the victim can live with on and off back pain for their entire lives following a bad slip and fall. Low back pain alone is the second most common cause of disability in the U.S., according to research in the National Library of Medicine.
Call an Attorney to Discuss Potential Payment for Your Injuries and Suffering
If you slipped or tripped because of a property or business owner’s negligence, you can file a personal injury lawsuit to collect the damages that you are owed. Figuring out who is at fault, and holding them accountable, however, is easier said than done. Let the experienced Philadelphia slip and fall attorneys at van der Veen, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim guide you through this ordeal to maximize your compensation. Contact us today to discuss your case.