A slip-and-fall incident at a business can lead to a variety of different expenses. The person who falls could break their phone or damage expensive clothing, watches or handbags when they fall. They may have injuries that require medical attention and generate health care costs. Sometimes, those injuries are serious enough to lead to lost wages or a long-term reduction in that person’s earning potential.
What injuries caused by a simple slip-and-fall might be serious enough to affect someone’s income?
Broken bones
People often try to protect themselves as they fall. People kick their legs and flail their arms. They may try to brace against impact. They could also hit other objects with their limbs or extremities as they fall. Broken bones can lead to someone being unable to work until the fracture heals. In more serious cases, fractures can potentially produce a long-term reduction in someone’s functional capabilities. They may struggle with ongoing pain symptoms, reduced flexibility and decreased strength in the affected body part. They might have weeks of lost wages to cover during their recovery or a long-term reduction in their earning potential to consider.
Soft tissue injuries
It is natural for people to tense up when they fall. Their attempts to protect themselves from immediate injury can potentially lead to muscle or connective tissue injuries. Many people develop sprains, strains and other soft tissue injuries because of a sudden fall in a public setting. Depending on their profession, their injuries might prevent them from performing key job functions until their body heals. That might mean a few days or possibly several months without their full income.
Traumatic brain injuries
The worst possible injury when someone falls is often a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Even same-level falls like slip-and-falls can cause bleeding and inflammation inside the skull. Those with moderate to severe brain injuries may have permanent symptoms. Those symptoms can include motor function challenges, changes in personality and cognitive symptoms. Workers in a variety of professions may be unable to work after their initial injury and may have to change professions because of their symptoms.
The premises liability insurance that a business carries could potentially help cover someone’s slip-and-fall expenses. Other times, a personal injury lawsuit may be necessary. Determining the long-term impact of slip-and-fall injuries can help people decide the right type of compensation to pursue.