Property owners have a responsibility to keep you safe from falls by removing any slipping or tripping hazards or at least warning you about them. For example, the floor inside a building can become slippery if the owner neglects to clean up spills or inform visitors that the floor is wet from mopping.
The American Interventional Pain Institute describes some injuries you are most likely to incur from a slip and fall. While some may seem relatively minor, they can sometimes have serious complications.
1. Abrasions and lacerations
Abrasions and lacerations are the medical terms for, respectively, scrapes and cuts to the skin. You probably have experience with superficial abrasions and lacerations, which usually heal on their own with minor first aid. However, if the laceration or abrasion is deep, it can trap bacteria and lead to infection. To prevent infection and facilitate healing, a deep laceration sometimes requires stitches to hold the flaps of skin together.
2. Soft tissue injuries
Ligaments are fibrous bands that tie your bones together at the joints. Tendons connect muscles to bone. The impact of a fall can cause these soft tissues to stretch or tear. Soft tissue injuries can be very painful and take a long time to heal, disrupting your life in the process.
3. Bone fractures
A FOOSH injury results from a fall onto an outstretched hand, which can cause bone fractures of your hand or wrist. These usually heal completely, though it takes time. A slip and fall can result in more serious fractures affecting one of your hips or your skull.
Complications of a hip fracture can be fatal, especially if you are older, and a skull fracture could contribute to a traumatic brain injury.
