Champions For Injured Pennsylvanians

Head and brain injuries commonly result from slip-and-falls

On Behalf of | Oct 2, 2017 | Slip-and-fall Accidents |

It can be easy to brush off a slip-and-fall accident when it happens. You may feel embarrassed, particularly if it happened at a business where others are present. If everyone in the frozen foods section is staring at you, it’s natural to want to get away from the area as soon as possible. Doing so could end up being a big mistake.

Slip-and-fall accidents can often result in serious injuries. Even if you don’t think you’re hurt, you should always take the time to report the accident to the manager on duty or the owner of the business. Failing to do so could make it impossible to get necessary compensation if injuries do become obvious at a later date. Taking the time the report the incident, especially if you hit your head or blacked out, even for a second, could prove invaluable later.

Symptoms of head injuries are often delayed

You may consider yourself lucky if you experienced a dramatic slip-and-fall accident and walked away with only a bump on the head to show for it. Some people break bones, bleed profusely or even die as the result of a slip-and-fall. However, just because you’re able to get up and walk away doesn’t mean you aren’t injured.

When you hit or roughly shake your head, swelling and bruising can result. In fact, blows to the head are one of the most common causes for debilitating traumatic brain injuries. Striking your head on the floor when you fall may seem like a minor issue, but it could grow into something more serious. It can take some time for the swelling in your brain to impact you by causing symptoms. Depending on the severity and location of the injury, it could be hours or even days before your symptoms appear.

Traumatic brain injuries need prompt treatment

Left untreated, head and traumatic brain injuries can grow worse over time. After all, your skull is tightly closed. The more bruising, swelling and bleeding that happens, the worse the potential injury to your brain. As pressure builds up inside your skull, you may begin noticing serious symptoms, such as cognitive issues, problems with your memory, slurred speech, blurry vision, nausea or vomitting, headaches and even mood swings.

Seeing a doctor after a slip-and-fall could mitigate the worst of those symptoms. A doctor can analyze you for potential injuries and determine what your best course of treatment may be. Medications could help. In other cases, surgery could be necessary to reduce swelling. The longer you wait to seek treatment, the harder it can become to prove that your injuries are a direct result of your slip-and-fall accident. Taking the initiative early protects you medically and potentially financially as well.

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