Slip and fall incidents cause a wide variety of injuries, many of which cost a considerable amount of money to diagnose and treat. Head injuries that result from a slip and fall can lead to a lifetime of physical distress, such as a loss of memory and constant migraine headaches.
If you slipped and fell and hit your head on the floor or ground, one of the first series of diagnostic tests to undergo involves imaging scans of the brain. Because a head injury might produce delayed symptoms, you should complete diagnostic tests as soon as possible after a slip and fall incident.
Common Head Injuries in a Slip and Fall
Head injuries that result from a slip and fall can generate visible symptoms right away or much more subtle symptoms that take days, if not weeks to develop.
Concussion
A slip and fall on the back of your head might result in the development of a concussion. You can sustain a concussion even if your head did not directly hit the floor or ground. A strong impact that moves the neck back and forward forcefully can result in a concussion as well. Although a concussion typically produces signs that an imaging test can detect, some cases of the medical condition require a physician to witness behavioral patterns such as slurred speech that indicate a strong impact negatively affected the brain.
Hematoma
If your head hit the ground hard because of a slip and fall incident, the outer blood vessels that provide blood to the brain can receive a considerable amount of damage. Damaged outer blood vessels might cause a hematoma to develop, which is a blood clot that applies strong pressure on the tissue that surrounds the brain. Failing to relieve the pressure caused by a hematoma limits the functioning of the brain.
Contusion
A bruise that forms on the brain is called a contusion, which often results from a fall that made a strong impact on the head. Contusions range from mild, which heal quickly, to a severe injury that significantly impacts the brain’s ability to process information. A serious slip and fall incident can generate a contusion that requires emergency surgery to alleviate the symptoms.
Proving the Slip and Fall Caused the Head Injury
When you file an insurance claim for a slip and fall, you must prove the personal injury incident caused your head injury. Medical records, such as the results of diagnostic tests and a detailed description of treatment programs, represent compelling physical evidence. Witness accounts of the slip and fall support the physical evidence that you send with an insurance claim form. Video footage taken at the time of the slip and fall determines whether the property owner should assume legal liability for your head injuries.
Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
Working with a slip and fall personal injury lawyer may help you collect the evidence you need to file a claim that gets you approved for compensation. A lawyer may also provide legal support if you decide to file a civil lawsuit that seeks monetary damages. Fill out the Free Case Evaluation on this page today to get in touch with a participating, independent attorney who subscribes to the website.
