Slip and fall accident injuries can affect anybody. These incidents can occur while a person is at work, at their home, shopping at the store, going to the bank, and more. The truth is that any person involved in a slip and fall incident needs to seek medical care as soon as they can. The truth is that slip and fall victims are often embarrassed by what happened, regardless of who caused the incident, and want to get away from the accident site as soon as possible without causing a fuss. This is a mistake.
If you slip and fall and experience any type of pain, this is a strong sign that there is some sort of injury that needs medical treatment. Data from the National Floor Safety Institute shows us that approximately one million people in the US seek medical care in an emergency room after sustaining a slip and fall injury. Some of the most common injuries people sustain as a result of these incidents include:
These injuries need to be treated by a medical professional. Failing to seek immediate medical care after sustaining an obvious slip and fall accident injury could result in a short- or long-lasting disability arising.
Anytime we experience a sudden accident, our bodies kick into protective mode. One way that our bodies protect themselves is by sending adrenaline coursing through our system that can keep us from feeling any pain right away. We have evolved like this to be able to get away from dangerous situations quickly.
When a slip and fall incident occurs, a person may not feel any pain right away, and this could mask serious underlying injuries. That is why we always recommend that individuals seek immediate medical care following a slip and fall injury, regardless of whether or not they feel any pain.
A doctor needs to conduct a thorough examination in order to determine whether or not any injuries have occurred. A doctor may be able to notice something that the individual slip and fall victim does not see. In severe cases, there may be a concussion or a more serious traumatic brain injury that has occurred that could indicate brain swelling or bleeding underneath the skull. If this is not treated promptly, a person could sustain significant long-lasting disabilities.
When a slip and fall accident victim seeks immediate medical care, they are accomplishing a few things. First, and most importantly, they are taking care of their own well-being. At the end of the day, we are responsible for ensuring that we are taken care of after an injury occurs.
The second thing that seeking medical care does in these cases is establishing a direct link between the slip and fall incident and the injuries that have occurred. This will be important when it comes to securing compensation if the slip and fall accident was caused by the careless or negligent actions of a property owner. The insurance carriers or legal teams involved will be much more likely to pay a settlement if it seems irrefutable that the slip and fall incident caused the injuries.