Common Types of Injuries After a Slip and Fall in Pasadena, California

Injuries After a Slip and Fall

Slip and fall accidents result in over 1 million hospital visits every year. Victims frequently suffer from serious injuries that require extensive and costly medical care, not to mention extended time off work. These are losses many Californians cannot afford.

If you have been hurt in a slip and fall in Pasadena and someone else is to blame, you may be entitled to compensation through a personal injury claim. Contact the Law Offices of Pius Joseph today for a free consultation with an experienced slip and fall lawyer.

What is a Slip and Fall Accident?

A slip and fall accident happens when someone slips, trips, or falls on another’s property. These incidents commonly occur when visitors fall after stepping on unattended spills, slick surfaces, broken steps, loose flooring, clutter, or debris.

The two primary types of slip accidents are:

  • Heel slips: A heel slip occurs when the heel of the leading foot slides forward as it contacts the ground at the end of a stride. With nothing to support the weight transferred to the leading foot, a person can fall.
  • Toe slips: A toe slip occurs when the toe of the trailing foot slides out of place as it leaves the ground at the end of a stride. Toe slips are less likely to result in falls because the person has typically already shifted their weight off of the trailing leg when the toe begins to slide.

Common Injuries After a Slip and Fall

Common injuries after a slip and fall accident include:

  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI): If a person cannot break their fall, they may suffer blunt force trauma to the head and sustain a severe TBI.
  • Spinal cord injuries: The impact of a slip and fall accident can easily fracture the vertebrae or damage the nerves of the spinal cord. The most severe spinal cord injuries can result in partial or total paralysis below the injury site.
  • Back and neck injuries: The back and neck are highly vulnerable in a slip and fall accident. Injuries such as herniated discs and neck sprains are common.
  • Hip and shoulder injuries – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 95 percent of hip fractures among older adults result from falls. Shoulder trauma such as dislocations or brachial plexus injuries are also common.
  • Fractured or dislocated bones – When a slip-and-fall victim lands hard, the force of impact can dislocate, fracture, or even shatter fragile bones. Hip fractures are the most common type of fall-related injury.

Slip and Fall Injury Statistics

According to data published by the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) and the National Safety Council (NSC):

  • Falls are the leading cause of hospital emergency room visits (21.3 percent).
  • Five percent of all people who fall sustain fractures as a result.
  • Slip and falls are the leading cause of workers’ compensation claims and time away from work.
  • Slip and fall accidents are the leading cause of work-related injuries for workers aged 55 and older.
  • Half of all accidental deaths that occur at home are the result of falls. Most happen at ground level
  • rather than from an elevated surface.
  • In a single recent year, 39,443 people were fatally injured in fall accidents at home or work.
  • That same year, 244,000 workers were injured badly enough in falls to require time off work.
  • Another 880 employees died from fall-related injuries.
  • Falls are the leading cause of death for older adults aged 65 and older.

What To Do If You’ve Been Injured in a Slip and Fall Accident

If you sustain a slip and fall injury due to a property owner’s negligence, you can protect your legal rights and support your future injury claim after a slip and fall by:

  • Seeking prompt medical attention for your injuries
  • Following your doctor’s treatment recommendations
  • Reporting the accident to the property owner or manager
  • Obtaining a copy of the accident report for your records
  • Taking photos of your injuries and the accident scene
  • Saving the clothing and shoes you were wearing when the slip and fall occurred as physical evidence
  • Filing all documents, bills, and other paperwork related to the incident in a safe place
  • Contacting a Pasadena slip and fall lawyer for legal advice
  • You must immediately contact the lawyer since the business will likely not preserve the videos and evidence critical to your case.

Do I Have a Slip and Fall Case?

If your slip-and-fall accident happened at work, you may have a valid workers’ compensation claim if you are an eligible employee. Under California workers’ comp law, eligible employees are entitled to benefits for work-related injuries regardless of who was at fault.

The process is different if you were not working when you slipped and fell on another party’s property. You may have grounds for a third-party insurance claim or slip and fall lawsuit if you can prove:

  • An unsafe condition was present on the property.
  • The property owner caused the unsafe condition, was aware of the hazard and did not repair it or should have been aware of the dangerous condition through regular maintenance and inspection of the premises.
  • The owner failed to properly warn visitors of the hazard, either verbally or by posting a warning sign.
  • The unsafe condition caused or directly contributed to your injuries.
  • You exercised reasonable care to avoid obviously dangerous conditions and prevent injuries while on the premises.
  • You were a legal visitor on the premises when the slip and fall occurred.

Contact a Pasadena Slip and Fall Lawyer Today

If you were hurt in a slip and fall accident, contact the Law Offices of Pius Joseph for a free case review with an accomplished Pasadena slip and fall lawyer.