It is remarkably easy for people to downplay a slip-and-fall accident.
Many Houston residents may think of a slip-and-fall, especially if it is a fall on level ground, to be little more than something that is embarrassing or that causes some soreness for a few days.
Slip-and-fall accidents are such that even a victim himself may downplay his own injuries when asked about them.
Traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries are possible after falls
Texans should be thankful when they or their loved ones can walk away from a fall, as too often that is not the case.
Falling is one of the leading causes of serious spinal cord injuries. Although the extent of the injury depends on a number of circumstances, a severe spinal cord injury can mean a person must live the rest of her life paralyzed.
While not every spinal cord injury leaves a person immobile, they all almost inevitably cause some serious medical complications that frequently require long-term treatment and care. This care alone can cost millions of dollars over a person’s life.
Falls also frequently cause moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries, particularly in children and older adults. As is the case with spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries can leave a person with permanently debilitating physical, cognitive and emotional problems that may require ongoing treatment and constant care.
Other injuries from slips and falls are also serious
Fortunately, not every slip and falls ends with a brain injury or spinal cord injury. Still, other injuries like broken bones, soft tissue injuries and the like can require expensive treatment and put a person out of work for months.
No matter the extent of their injuries, victims of slips and falls should receive full compensation for all of their losses. They should be well aware of both their legal rights and their alternatives.