There is a common misconception that slip and fall accidents are minor mishaps. In reality, injuries from slip and fall accidents can be significant and life-altering. A sudden fall on a wet floor or poorly maintained property can leave victims struggling with painful injuries. These injuries can impact their ability to work, care for their families, and enjoy daily activities. From broken bones and head trauma to soft tissue damage and chronic pain, the effects of a slip and fall often extend far beyond the initial incident.
At Rizk Law, our Portland slip and fall injury lawyers understand how accidents can lead to long-term medical complications, ongoing treatment, and costly financial burdens for victims and their families. We can explain your legal rights and pursue the money you need to rebuild your life. Our personalized legal strategies, unique insurance industry insight, and extensive experience give us the edge to build solid slip and fall claims.
Contact our Portland office today for a free case review. We want to discuss the circumstances of your slip and fall accident, how your injuries may impact your future, and your options for pursuing the compensation you deserve.
Most Common Slip and Fall Injuries
Slip and fall accidents can cause life-altering injuries. Some of the most common slip and fall injuries include:
Head and Brain Injuries
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in the United States. Traumatic brain injuries can lead to lifelong cognitive, physical, and emotional impairments. These impairments can cause learning disabilities, behavioral changes, and limited mobility or paralysis. Even a seemingly minor bump to the head from a fall can result in a concussion and time away from work.
Back, Neck, and Spinal Cord Injuries
A sudden fall can cause herniated discs or fractured vertebrae. In severe cases, spinal cord damage may result in partial or complete paralysis.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Often, bone breaks happen when someone tries to stop the fall or catch themselves on the way down. Wrists, arms, and ankles are especially vulnerable when someone instinctively tries to break their fall. Hip fractures are also common, especially in older individuals. Depending on the nature of the break, significant fractures in the legs and hips often require surgery and extensive rehabilitation.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries, such as sprains, strains, and torn ligaments, can also occur when someone tries to break their fall or by the impact of hitting the ground. These injuries can cause significant pain, limited mobility, and prolonged recovery. Severe cuts, bruises, scrapes, and nerve damage are also common soft tissue injuries.
Shoulder and Knee Injuries
When someone twists on the way down, a fall can cause rotator cuff injuries, dislocated shoulders, or ACL tears. These injuries may require surgery and ongoing physical therapy.
Emotional and Financial Impact of Slip and Fall Injuries
While broken bones and head injuries can be common physical slip and fall injuries, many people overlook the invisible impacts.
These effects can include the emotional and mental suffering a person experiences after a traumatic incident. Coping with devastating and life-altering physical injuries can also trigger strong emotional responses from accident victims as they struggle to adjust to their new standard of living and quality of life.
Slip and fall accident victims may suffer insomnia, depression, and anxiety. Some people may also experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Victims with brain trauma and their families may also need to adjust to cognitive, behavioral, and personality changes after the fall. These emotional injuries are easy for insurers to overlook or disregard entirely when it comes to compensation.
Financially, slip and fall victims may suffer the enormous weight of high medical bills and time away from work. In some situations, injuries may prevent a victim from returning to work in the same capacity or at all. The financial instability a person suffers after an accident can also be traumatic and lead to feelings of depression and anxiety as they struggle to stay afloat.
A slip and fall accident can impact nearly every aspect of a person’s life, from their financial standing to their physical and emotional well-being.
Long-Term Effects of Slip and Fall Accidents
Unfortunately, the long-term effects of a slip and fall accident can be profound. Significant falls can change a person’s life and leave lasting physical and emotional scars. While the long-term effects depend on the nature and severity of a person’s injuries, some of the issues that fall victims may face can include:
- Permanent physical disability – Severe spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or certain types of broken bones can cause long-term impairment and permanent physical disabilities. Paralysis can result from spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries, along with loss of sensation, mobility, and independence. These injuries can also impair organ and sexual function in some cases, all leading to quality-of-life issues.
- Emotional and psychological struggles – Anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress are common after significant falls. Individuals may struggle with their emotional health while learning how to cope with their new reality. Some victims can lose confidence in their ability to move safely and live an independent life, which can degrade their mental health. Adjusting to these changes can take significant psychological intervention and therapy.
- Chronic pain – Injuries such as fractures, torn ligaments, or back problems may result in chronic pain. This pain can make walking, climbing stairs, or performing daily tasks difficult.
- Ongoing medical treatment – Serious slip and falls often don’t need just one trip to the hospital or doctor’s office. They may require extensive and long-term medical treatment. Rehabilitation, physical therapy, medications, and potential surgeries can last for years, creating a cycle of financial and emotional stress.
- Reduced earning capacity – Some fall victims cannot return to work full-time or in the same capacity. This leads to lost income and career setbacks that impact their earning capacity and financial health.
- Diminished quality of life – When significant slip and fall injuries prevent someone from enjoying hobbies, traveling, or spending time with loved ones, the effects go beyond the physical. This lower quality of life can impact a victim’s relationships, mental health, and overall recovery.
Why You Need a Slip and Fall Lawyer in Portland
Slip and fall injuries can touch every part of a person’s life. However, insurance companies seldom offer fair compensation that extends beyond the initial effects of the fall. They aim to settle quickly and quietly for as little money as possible. This strategy works because adjusters may pressure cash-strapped victims into settling their cases before they fully realize the extent of their severe injuries and losses. This situation is just one of the reasons you need an experienced Portland slip and fall accident lawyer helping you after a fall on someone else’s property.
A personal injury lawyer can protect your rights and help maximize your compensation by taking your current and long-term needs into account. At Rizk Law, we’ll carefully evaluate your situation, accurately assess the value of your injuries, and then aggressively pursue fair compensation for you. We want to take the stress out of the claims process, freeing you to focus on your physical and mental health.
Our Portland slip and fall lawyers can:
- Investigate the cause of the accident
- Gather and preserve critical case evidence
- Identify all potentially liable parties and hold them accountable
- Prepare all necessary paperwork and manage communication between you and the involved parties
- Advise you of your rights and options for seeking compensation
- Coordinate with experts about the severity and long-term implications of your injuries
- Challenge attempts to minimize or deny your claim
- Aggressively negotiate for maximum compensation
- Prepare a case for court when necessary
We also offer a unique advantage to personal injury cases. Firm founder Richard Rizk is a former defense attorney who has worked for some of the nation’s leading insurers. He understands how the industry works and what it takes to build solid claims for slip and fall accident victims. We’ll use that insider knowledge and experience to your advantage when you choose us to handle your slip and fall claim.
Contact a Portland Slip and Fall Lawyer
Seeking justice and fair compensation after a significant Portland slip and fall accident can seem daunting. The last thing you want to do when you have physical and emotional injuries that make even daily chores challenging is fight an extensive and exhausting battle against an insurer.
At Rizk Law, our slip and fall attorneys are ready to fight for you. Although each case is unique and past results cannot guarantee future outcomes, we have an impressive track record of delivering results for our clients through meaningful verdicts and settlements. You’ll also find that our clients praise the way we work with them. We diligently strive to keep clients happy and resolve their legal issues.
Contact our office today for your free consultation. We take your slip and fall case as seriously as you do and will do everything possible to help you navigate this trying time.