It is fairly common knowledge that slip and fall accidents can cause a variety of injuries, some of which can be severe. What may not be as well known, however, is the fact that some of these potential injuries can be head or brain trauma. These injuries can be minor or they can be life-threatening, even to the extent of causing death. Head and brain trauma can lead to life-long complications, including behavioral issues, changes in personality, problems processing emotions, and other cognitive complications.
Slip and Fall Causes
These slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere and at any time. Someone may trip and fall on a cracked sidewalk, causing your head to either strike the ground, or another object on your way down. Slick floors in a store may cause you to slip and hit your head on a nearby shelf. Uneven or rough surfaces make it difficult to walk, and other hazardous conditions and contribute to this as well.
Regardless of where it happens and what causes it, however, any slip and fall accident should be treated with care, especially if it results in nausea, confusion, coordination issues, headaches, seizures, blurred vision, or slurred speech. These can all be symptoms of a possible head injury and should be examined further by a medical professional.
Slip and Fall Head Injuries
There are a few different kinds of head injuries that may happen as a result of a slip and fall accident. Let’s take a look at what they are and how you can differentiate between them.
Contusion
Similarly to your skin and other organs, your brain can experience bruises as a result of excessive bleeding in one area. A blunt force trauma may cause a contusion on the brain, which should be monitored. Some contusions are minor and will heal on their own, however, some are severe and need medical attention in order to be removed in order to prevent potential long-term consequences. Often, contusions are confused with concussions, however they differ in a few ways.
Concussion
A slip and fall accident may cause your brain to experience a jolt or a blow. This kind of jarring motion may result in a concussion. Oftentimes, concussions are considered to be minor brain injuries, however, there can still be serious side effects and consequences to them. These brain injuries may or may not cause a blackout period, or a loss in consciousness. They often result in dizziness, intense headaches, ringing in the eardrums, speech slurring, and a dazed or foggy appearance or behavior. If a concussion is severe enough, it can also affect long term memory, concentration, sleep and other behaviors permanently.
Hematoma
Another result of a blow to the head caused by a slip and fall is a hematoma. This occurs when the blood vessels that surround the brain are damaged. This can cause a blood clot that results in pressure on the brain tissue. Often, these can be extremely serious and will need surgical removal in order to prevent permanent damage to brain function.
Closed Head Injury
This type of brain injury occurs when damage is done to the brain, but the skull appears to be intact and unaffected. These injuries can be especially dangerous, as they often go unnoticed since there is no apparent outward injury. It’s important to understand the symptoms and warning signs of a closed head injury. The inner injury can be extremely severe, including potential bruised tissue, torn blood vessels, intracranial pressure, and brain swelling. Closed head injuries almost always require medical intervention, otherwise they will lead to lifelong side effects.
Regardless of what kind of brain injury is sustained during a slip and fall accident, it is imperative that you seek medical attention and proper legal representation. If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury and you think you may have a case, contact our team of personal injury experts to see how we can help.