Slip and Falls can Cause Traumatic Brain Injuries
After a slip and fall, many people can stand up, dust themselves off, and carrying on with their day. But if you hit your head while falling, you are more likely to suffer a serious traumatic brain injury (TBI). The human brain is well protected by the fluid surrounding it, which prevents the brain from making contact with any ridges inside the skull. However, any jarring blow to the body can jiggle the brain around and cause injury.
Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries range from relatively mild concussions to life-threatening injuries. You should contact a doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following symptoms after a fall:
- Worsening headache
- Seizures
- Vomiting
- Inability to wake up
- Confusion
- Agitation
- Weakness in extremities
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Slurred speech
- Loss of balance or coordination
Treatment will vary depending on the severity of the injury. For mild concussions, you might only need bed rest for two weeks and over-the-counter medication to manage pain. More serious TBIs will require surgery to remove blood clots or to stop bleeding, and years of rehabilitation to regain the ability to walk and talk.
Evidence is Key
You might be entitled to financial compensation if someone else is responsible for your fall. For example, you might be able to sue anyone who invites you onto their property but:
- Fails to warn you of hidden dangers
- Fails to clean up a spill
- Fails to ensure adequate security to keep you from becoming the victim of a crime
- Fails to properly maintain staircases and guard rails
Trespassers have fewer rights. In particular, a landowner only owes trespassers a duty not to deliberately harm them. However, an exception exists for child, in which case landowners need to fix anything that might attract children, such as broken playground equipment or an unenclosed swimming pool.
Because every case is different, you will need a personal injury lawyer to analyze the surrounding circumstances to identify whether anyone is responsible for your injuries. To help your case, remember to do the following:
- Write down your memories of what happened. What did you see? Did anyone verbally warn you of a danger?
- Identify witnesses who saw you fall. Get their names and contact information.
- Find a copy of any police report, if one was filed.
- Obtain pictures of the hazard, if possible. For example, someone can snap a picture of a spill in a grocery store with a smart phone.
You have a limited amount of time to sue in North Carolina for a slip and fall, so make sure to schedule a consultation with a lawyer as soon as possible.
Call a Wilmington, North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer
Injured accident victims can face sky-high medical bills while being unable to return to work. Fortunately, help is available. Contact Hodges Coxe Potter & Phillips today for a consultation. Our lawyers have years of experience getting slip and fall victims the compensation they deserve. Reach out by calling 910-772-1678 or completing our online contact form.