Southern California is typically known for being a very busy region, with many business and public areas filled with bustling people. Having congested and busy areas can easily foster places where people can suffer a trip and fall.
If you have suffered a trip and fall accident, it is likely that you will experience the unwillingness to report the incident either because you could feel embarrassed or because you feel that the incident was your fault. In reality, however, the majority of trip and fall accidents happen as a result of a hazard in which the property overseer failed to address.
The Consequences of a Trip and Fall Accident
Suffering a trip and fall accident can quickly result in a multitude of severe injuries, many that could lead to very expensive medical bills. The following list provides important facts published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- 1 out of every 5 falls will result in a serious injury such a head injury or broken bones.
- Every year, 3 million elderly people are treated in emergency departments for these types of injuries.
- These types of accidents are one of the main causes of traumatic brain injuries.
- In the year 2015, the total cost for medical expenses for these accidents totaled over $50 billion.
Although not every trip and fall accident will result in a severe injury, it is important to seek immediate medical support following an injury. Many injuries will not be immediately apparent and failing to seek immediate medical attention can worsen the injury.
It is worth noting that many accident can take an emotional toll on injured victims. For instance, if you tripped in a busy supermarket, it is likely you can feel a rush of embarrassment and/or an adrenaline rush.
The following are some of the most common injuries caused by a trip and fall accident:
- Neck injuries
- Severe head injuries
- Broken pelvic
- Twisted ankle
- Spinal injuries
Every one of the mentioned injuries can be dangerous but the most dangerous can result from a severe head injury. This is because not every head injury will immediately display symptoms. The symptoms from a severe head injury can also progress over time, even with proper medical care. The following are a few symptoms that you should be aware of if you have suffered a trip and fall accident:
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Slurred speech
- Nausea
- Blurry eye vision
- Headaches, mild or severe
Obtain Financial Restitution For Your Injuries
When a person has suffered a trip and fall in a public place, it is possible to seek financial restitution for the injuries if it can be proven that the property caretaker was careless in ensuring the safety of those within the premises. Some of the most common parties that can be held liable for negligence can include the following:
- Cities or municipalities, for failing to fix a dangerous sidewalk;
- A store owner, for failing to maintain dry floors in a supermarket; or
- A property owner; for failing to fix a known defective staircase.
Injuries caused by trip and fall accidents can easily result in momentous medical expenses. If you have suffered a trip and fall accident that left you with injuries, seek the legal expertise of a skilled attorney who can represent your rights.
The attorneys at Martinez & Schill are highly proficient in championing for the rights of individuals that have suffered a trip and fall while on another’s property. Negligent property owners should always be made accountable for failing to provide a reasonably safe premises; the attorneys at Martinez & Schill are qualified to vigorously confront negligent property owners in a court of law.