While it might not seem evident at first, slip and fall accidents can actually be much more serious than they seem on the surface, and certainly more severe than they may seem at a glance when they first occur. It’s important to understand that if a Phoenix-area property or business owner’s negligence created the hazardous conditions that resulted in your injury, they must be held accountable.
This not only means you’re fighting for yourself and to obtain fair compensation for your own injuries — it means you’re also helping to ensure that this property or business owner is made aware of the dangers within their shop or space so that future accidents and other slip and fall accidents in Phoenix can be avoided.
Serious injuries don’t always have to be evident right out of the gate with a slip and fall accident, as these types of personal injuries can easily sneak up on you over a period of hours or even days after you have fallen.
While there are a high number of serious injuries caused by slip and fall accidents each year, according to the CDC there are also over 17,000 deaths caused annually from these same types of accidents across the United States; your voice is important, even if you think your accident may not have been that serious, as it could be the determining factor that makes an Arizona business or property owner make necessary changes to lessen the potential for future accidents that could result in a loss of life for others after you.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the most common kinds of injuries seen in slip and fall accidents among those seeking the help of a personal injury attorney in Phoenix.
Bumps and Bruises Caused by Slip and Fall Accidents
Bumps and bruises are some of the most common injuries that occur during slip and fall accidents all over the world. While a bump or a bruise may not usually seem very serious, they can cause quite a bit of pain and discomfort, and getting them checked out by way of x-ray or other imaging is highly recommended as a way to ensure the injuries are not more serious. While you wait for the results of any imaging that was done on your arms, legs, hands, feet, head, or torso, it is advised that you “take it easy” and not begin any new projects.
Likewise, if you can avoid driving while you await imaging results, this is also smart, as there is no way to know what condition you could be handling a motor vehicle under.
For these reasons and more, your life could have been dramatically altered as the result of what seems to be a minor bump or bruise, and this is something that makes you eligible for compensation — because you cannot go on with life as you had planned it before your slip and fall accident, and this could change a lot of things, including working and attending job interviews, home life and caring for children, school work, projects, or teaching ability, and much more.
If you have experienced a slip and fall accident in Phoenix and feel you should not be overly concerned because all you walked away with were minor bruises or bumps, think again: it’s imperative that you be seen by a medical professional, and if possible, obtain imaging to ascertain the severity of any injuries that may have occurred anywhere on your body as a result of the accident.
Broken Bones Caused by Slip and Fall Accidents
Broken bones as the result of a slip and fall accident can not only be painful to deal with, they can also take months to fully heal. And, while you wait for broken bones to heal, you may be dramatically restricted in terms of what you can do at work, at home, or during your off time.
Any broken bone anywhere on your body as the result of a slip and fall accident is very important to have checked out by a medical professional. Not only will you want to make a doctor’s appointment to have any broken bones determined by a physician, but you will also want to make sure you are properly treated, and to do that, you will need to have x-rays or other imaging performed to determine the severity of your injuries.
In addition to taking time to fully recuperate, broken bones can also mean you will need to seek other treatment to ensure that your range of movement is fully restored. In these instances, you may need to seek physical therapy, exercise therapy, chiropractic care, or other forms of therapy that can help you get back on your feet, back to work, and back to your life as you were living it before your slip and fall accident.
For these reasons and more, it’s critical that you seek out legal consultation to ensure that you have all of your bases covered — only an experienced personal injury attorney in Phoenix will be able to walk you through a checklist of items to establish that you received the care necessary to heal while also ensuring that the correct person or party paid for your treatment or paid your insurance back.
In addition to paying for any treatments and imaging you may need after a slip and fall accident that resulted in broken bones, the party responsible for your fall must also be made to pay for your time away from work as well as any pain and suffering you endured as a result of the accident.
Concussions and Head Injuries Caused by Slip and Fall Accidents
Concussions and other types of head injuries are among the most serious injuries you can experience as the result of a slip and fall accident. If you hit your head during the course of your slip and fall accident, it could result in underlying medical issues, and there’s no way to know how long you may be dealing with the repercussions of these injuries.
Some of the signs and symptoms of a head injury caused by a slip and fall accident can include:
- Mild, moderate, or severe headaches
- Mild to moderate fatigue
- Dizziness upon waking, rising, or throughout the day
- Nausea and vomiting
Hitting your head in a slip and fall accident is definitely not something that you want to take lightly, as it could have long-term effects if left untreated. It’s critical that you seek medical care right away, receive long-term care for any potential underlying signs and symptoms that could point to more severe injuries, memory loss, or loss of other mental faculties or functions.
For a head injury, x-rays are not generally seen as the best imaging option. Instead, you will want to ensure that you receive either a CT scan or an MRI, which will show the extent of the damage within the cranium, including any swelling, fracture(s), or other injuries you may have sustained during your slip and fall accident.
What Should You Do If You’re Involved in a Phoenix Slip and Fall Accident?
The first thing that you should do after a slip and fall accident is seek medical attention. There’s simply no substitute for having a medical professional take a look at your injuries and determine the extent of both the internal and external damage. The sooner you can be reviewed by a physician, the better: waiting to be seen can make it seem as though you are not taking the potential injuries seriously, and this could be used against you if your case goes to trial.
Once you have been seen by a doctor, your next most critical step is to either get x-rays taken or have either a CT scan or MRI type imaging done wherever you may have injuries internally, within your cranium or along major joints where damage could be more severe than what an x-ray will reveal.
After you seek medical attention, you should schedule a free consultation with an experienced Phoenix personal injury attorney to find out what legal steps can be taken to address your unique slip and fall accident. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills as well as any other losses incurred due to the injuries, including your time away from work and other obligations that you may have had to put off as a result of your injuries.
To learn more about what you may be entitled to as the victim of a slip and fall accident in Arizona, call the Hutzler Law Firm right away. We will begin your slip and fall accident claim with a no-cost legal consultation to determine all the details of your unique incident and begin the process of building your case. Get started today by dialing 602-730-4530.
Jason Hutzler
Jason Hutzler is the founding partner of Phoenix personal injury law firm Hutzler Law, and represents individuals throughout Arizona. His practice is primarily dedicated to personal injury and car accident claims, leveraging his deep expertise as a former insurance adjustor to navigate the complexities of insurance negotiations.