Connect
To Top

Everything You Need to Know about Head Trauma as a Major Injury of Slip and Fall Accidents

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that falls are mostly credited to more than 35 percent of all traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). This affects most of those who fall backward.

Traumatic brain injuries or TBIs may lead to various conditions such as concussions, cognitive impairment, fatal brain injuries and permanent brain injuries. Likewise, if the fall affects the head and neck, it could result in spinal cord injuries. The victims may suffer for a lifetime, particularly if not treated mostly due to the high costs of care.

You may obtain this injury because of some hazards. The Brain Injury Association of America said that environmental hazards account for one-third of falls. These include maintenance neglect, obstructions along the pathway, poor lighting, wet floors, and debris. These may lead to traumatic brain injuries. However, they may be prevented if there are warnings and efforts to fix the obstruction and hazards.

The Degree of Damage

The sad fact is that, constantly, there are many people that are affected by these type of slip and injuries. If in case you have suffered a head trauma caused by a slip and fall accident, you may file a lawsuit to claim for compensation.  On the other hand, you must first determine who/what is responsible for your slip and fall accident that led to a brain injury. The party who failed to do proper care will be found accountable. Of course, before you do that, you should have enough evidence about the person/institution that is liable for your injury.

To begin with, you must know the degree of damage you have including the nature of the event and its impact. These include any of the following factors:

  • An intense blow could trigger damages due to the brain that may bounce around in the skull.
  • There will be damages to brain cells below the point of impact on the skull.
  • A blast likens to an explosive device could cause severe damage.
  • There will be tearing of cellular structures caused by an intense spinning jolt.
  • Anything that enters the skull could trigger severe and irreparable damage to blood vessels, protective tissues that surrounds the brain, and the brain cells themselves.
  • Blood clots and/or swelling could also prevent the supply of oxygen to the brain that may cause severe damage.
  • Bleeding surrounding the brain.

Proving the Brain Injury Slip and Fall

Experts say that head injuries, which usually occur in a slip and fall accident, are quite difficult to be proved. This is because head and brain injuries are difficult to be identified by MRI or CT scan. On the other hand, there are some things you could provide for the brain injury lawsuit.

If you have suffered the brain injury after the slip and fall accident, you have to prepare the medical records you obtained from the hospital after you have been treated following the accident. These also include the EMT and ER records, incident reports, and eyewitness testimony. These may serve as your best evidence.

You may also provide testimony from your doctors that could show your detailed examinations and the neuropsychological test results. The doctor may also declare that the head trauma was triggered by the slip and fall accident.

Physical evidence may also contribute to proving the brain injury slip and fall. This includes your photos before the accident and those that were taken after the accident. The impact of the brain injury will be seen on those images.

Other witnesses that you suffered brain injury may include your family members, friends, neighbors, employers, and co-employees. Their testimonies will show how you were before the brain injury and after you have suffered the brain injury and these must be documented briefly.

Consult a Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer

This infographic gives you the gist of what you ought to know about slip and falls.

One thing you must once you fully recover from your brain injury is to consult an injury attorney. He will let you know the details and all the needed documents to claim for compensation. This brain injury will be treated at higher costs and the one liable must finance your treatment.

At the same time, if you cannot work after the accident, this makes the one liable, legally responsible for this too.  Just prepare the evidence with your lawyer and he will help you settle your case.

More in Legal Advice