From the grocery store to a sidewalk to your favorite bar, a slip-and-fall accident can happen in many different settings. Depending on the severity of the impact, one of the most common types of injuries you can sustain following a slip-and-fall accident is an injury to the head.
Head injuries can result in debilitating physical and emotional symptoms for the slip-and-fall victim. In severe cases, the accident victim can end up with long-term brain damage that impedes their ability to speak, walk or even work.
Understanding head injuries that result from slip-and-fall accidents
Basically, head injuries are classified as closed or open head injuries. Closed head injuries happen when you strike your head against a hard surface during a slip-and-fall incident. Open head injuries, on the other hand, happen when the head strikes a sharp or pointed object that eventually breaks the skull to enter the brain.
Here are two common types of head injuries that you can sustain during a slip-and-fall:
1. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are quite common during slips and falls. Traumatic brain injuries occur when the brain is violently bounced off the interior surface of the skull leading to bruising (contusions) and bleeding to the brain. A severe TBI can impact the brain’s ability to function properly, leading to life-altering injuries or even death.
2. Skull fractures
The skull might be strong and difficult to break. However, skull fractures do happen, especially if you violently land your head on a hard surface during the fall. A skull fracture can expose brain tissue to bruises and other injuries. It can also lead to internal bleeding.
A slip-and-fall accident can happen anywhere and at any time. If the slip-and-fall accident that resulted in injury to your brain is attributable to someone else’s negligence, you need to file a premises liability claim against the responsible party.
