Three Factors That May Lead To A TBI From A New Haven Slip And Fall Accident

March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month and one of the most common ways that people of all ages, but particularly those in the later part of their lives, experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is through slips and falls. While many older Americans experience falls and this often leads to a hospital visit and a TBI, people of any age are not immune from the dangers of a New Haven slip and fall accident leading to a TBI.

If you do experience a slip and fall accident you will quickly discover that the circumstances surrounding your accident can determine just how severe your injury may be. While it doesn’t much matter what you were doing when you experienced the accident the factors surrounding the incident can make a huge impact on whether or not your injury is severe and needs medical attention.

Older Americans and those that have dangerous jobs are often the people we think about when discussing accidents that involve a slip, trip or fall, but many Americans experience this type of accident on a regular basis, in just the general course of their daily lives. While construction works may be susceptible to this type of injury on the job, so too might be the delivery driver who is hopping in and out of her delivery truck to put packages on your doorstep. Someone out walking their dog may be susceptible to a trip on a raised sidewalk, but so too could the person who is walking in to the local supermarket.

The main point here is that the circumstances surrounding slip and fall accidents are not always clear cut and may be unusual. It is important to assess the situation after a fall to help determine the severity of what the injury may be. There are a few factors you will want to take in when trying to assess the situation.

1.) How high were you when you fell. For instance, a fall from the top rung of a ladder could be quite severe, but if you were to trip and fall on a loose paver stone on someone’s walkway you may just get a few cuts and bruises. The height from which you fall can play a significant role in determining how serious your injuries are going to be.

2.) The surface of the ground that you fall to can also be a factor in the severity of your injury. If you fall to a soft grassy spot, you may be able to escape the injury with few serious injuries, but if you land on a concrete or paved pathway or street below your injury may become quite severe very quickly. It is important to understand what surface you landed on so you can assess your situation thoroughly. This would be made easier if you were with someone when the fall occurred.

3.) How you land also plays a factor in the severity of your injury. If you fall and hit your head hard on the surface below you may be in for a serious injury, but if you land on your arm or legs and your head is spared from contact you may be lucky enough to avoid a TBI.

When you experience a New Haven slip and fall accident you may want to do some initial assessments of the situation and your injuries, but you do not want to leave it up to your own opinion about whether or not your injuries are severe. You should seek medical attention, regardless of the factors that were involved in your accident. Let a medical provider rule out any traumatic brain injuries and help you get on a path to recovery. If you brush off your injuries and it turns out there is something more severe going on you could worsen the impact of the accident for many months or even years to come.

In the event that you experience an accident that leads to a TBI you may need to speak with an attorney who has experience with this kind of situation. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.