Uneven or slick surfaces may seem insignificant, but they can lead to debilitating slip-and-fall injuries that can change your life forever. While many of victims in Georgia are elderly, there are many young, healthy people who also sustain severe injuries. The Brain Injury Society claims that 25 percent of spinal cord injuries are caused by falls and traumatic brain injuries occur from a fall 35 percent of the time. There are several other injuries that can occur when you slip.
Often, the whiplash of the falling motion causes a jerk that can injure your back or neck. When you fall, you can cause a compression fracture or herniated disc that creates a tingling and numbness in your feet and legs along with lower back pain. These symptoms can also be felt in your hands and arms along with neck pain or headaches, indicating an injury to the neck.
Another area of your body that can be injured during a fall are your joints, especially the shoulders and knees. As people fall, they tend to use their arms to try to stop themselves and can strain their rotator cuff, causing painful tears and sprains. Knees can also often take the brunt of a fall or be dislocated from the intense twisting motion.
Another common injury that can occur is a fracture. Landing on your side or rear can result in a hip fracture, especially in people over age 65. Other motions, like grabbing a railing, can lead to fractures in your arm or wrist. These are just a few of the many areas that can be affected in slip-and-fall injuries. This information is provided for general use only and not intended as legal advice.