Trip and Fall on Public Property
According to the National Safety Council, in 2015, falls are recorded as the number one cause of unintentional injury-related deaths. They reported 33,381 fatalities at home and work, with millions being treated nationally each year in emergency rooms for fall-related injuries.
A trip and fall incident should be a 100% preventable. If you are in control of your environment, such as your home or business, you can prevent trip hazards by planning ahead, putting away unused or unnecessary items in their proper storage places, fixing sidewalks, tile and other walking surfaces. You should check areas that use a lot of foot traffic for fallen items, uneven surfaces and clutter.
When you’re on the property of another person or in a business such as a store, you don’t have that control. Even if you are trying to be careful where you walk and in what you do, it’s still possible to trip and fall. When you are injured on the property of another person or company after a trip and fall, you may be able to seek compensation. Public property is no exception. You will have to file a claim against whatever government authority has jurisdiction over the accident location. For that, you’ll want to involve an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
Injuries from a Trip and Fall Incident
There are several types of injuries that can happen when you trip and fall anywhere:
- Soft tissue
- Cuts, lacerations, abrasions
- Broken bones, dislocations
- Head trauma and spinal cord injuries
- Spinal Cord
Soft Tissue
Injuries to the soft tissue can include sprains, strains and tears to ligaments and tendons. This can range from a sore wrist, to a strain or tear on an ankle or leg ligament. Some of these will get better over time with the proper rest and immediate treatment, but other injuries to your soft tissue can create a long-term condition that requires future treatment, a long recovery period or even life-long accommodations. Soft tissue injuries may not always be obvious at the time of the fall but will present as time passes. It’s important to pay attention to symptoms that may indicate a worsening condition, needing immediate treatment.
Cuts, Laceration, Abrasions
These types of injuries can be less problematic than other kinds of injuries from tripping and falling. Usually a cut or scrape is easily treated, as it’s usually superficial; however, it’s possible there may be secondary injuries to more serious internal injuries hidden underneath. It’s important to accept or ask for internal scans after a heavy impact injury from a fall, even if the visible wound seems superficial.
Broken Bones
This type of injury is seldom isolated. A broken bone can range from a minor fracture to a more serious break. In most cases, the surrounding tissue will also be in distress. Even after the bones heal, long-term treatment, therapy and recovery may be warranted. There might also be an underlying internal injury with additional serious implications.
Head Trauma and Spinal Cord Injuries
Head trauma with loss of consciousness, bleeding or swelling should receive medical attention immediately. The danger of incurring Traumatic Brain Injury can be serious and should never wait for symptoms to develop. Spinal cord injuries also have serious implications, including possible fatality and long-term damage. They also require immediate attention and can be one of the costliest types of injuries to treat.
Florida has a statute of limitations on how much time can pass before filing a claim. Local governments involved as defendants in a personal injury claim may have additional requirements for filing, for which you do not want to be unaware. If you fail to follow the time limits or other requirements, you may lose your opportunity to receive fair compensation for your injuries. Tison Law Group can lead you through filing your claim and seeing that you receive what you are due. Don’t delay in contacting us for your free consultation.
