Surprisingly, the likelihood of incurring a traumatic brain injury in a slip and fall accident is quite high. The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) reports some alarming facts:
- Slips and falls account for over 1 million visits or 12% of total falls.
- Fractures are the most serious consequences of falls and occur in 5% of all people who fall.
- According to the CDC, in 2005, more than 15,000 people over the age of 65 died because of a fall.
- For people aged 65-84 years, falls are the second leading cause of injury-related death; for those aged 85 years or older, falls are the leading cause of injury-related death.
- Falls account for 87% of all fractures among people over the age of 65 and are the second leading cause of spinal cord and brain injury.
- 22% of slip/fall incidents resulted in more than 31 days away from work (US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2002).
Slips, trips, and falls cause serious injuries: abrasions, back injuries, broken bones, mild or serious head injuries, and other personal injuries.
And, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) attributes 35.2 percent of brain injuries to falls, the largest single influence.
How Traumatic is a TBI?
Mayo Clinic says, “Mild traumatic brain injury may affect your brain cells temporarily. More-serious traumatic brain injury can result in bruising, torn tissues, bleeding and other physical damage to the brain. These injuries can result in long-term complications or death.”
TBI can come from blunt force trauma or another violent act. But, slip and falls take many forms, some of which lead to the same results. You don’t have to be hit on the head to hit your head on something hazardous.
Anyone can fall because of clutter, electric cords and cables, gravel, grease, loose or uneven floors and sidewalks, wax, water, and more. But, TBI may result in:
Unconsciousness | Headaches | Nausea and Vomiting |
Speech Problems | Chronic Fatigue | Dizziness |
Blurred Vision | Tinnitus | Light Sensitivity |
Cognitive of Mental Problems | Memory and Concentration Loss | Mood Swings |
Depression and Anxiety | Convulsions and Seizures | Numbness in Extremities |
Loss of Mobility | Loss of Interest | Aggression and Irritability |
Coma | Loss of Appetite | Death |
Putting a value or price on such temporary or long-term results takes professional help and experience. Attorneys at Hoffmaier and Hoffmaier, P.C. say, “By pursuing those responsible for your injury with a personal injury lawsuit, you and your attorneys can fight for reasonable compensation that covers both immediate and long-term expenses, including medical expenses, physical therapy, medical modifications to the home, emotional counseling, loss of income from work, loss of future earning capacity, pain and suffering, and more.”
What’s the Price of Brain Injury Damages?
According to the Centre of Neuro Skills, “A severe head injury averages lifetime costs of over $3 million and for a moderate head injury over $1 million.”
Not surprisingly, the medical costs for treating those victims who do not survive can be the highest. If the average lifetime cost is over $1 million, rehabilitation alone can run $1,000 per day for an average rehab stay of 55 days. And, supporting return-to-work employment may run $10,000 a year.
There are no numbers on pain, suffering, and other losses. And, any costs would have to be adjusted for NYC cost of living factors.
But, considering slip and fall brain injury might have long-term or even life-long effects, you or your caregiver must act. The insurance company for the property owners may attempt to settle quickly for an amount that will only cover the immediate medical expenses. But, that’s not likely to compensate fully for brain injuries, even those sustained in an NYC slip and fall accident.
With the likelihood and frequency of slip and fall accidents and their major contribution to brain injuries, you’d be well advised to carry contact information for your personal injury attorney. To know more about slip and fall accident, contact us today to schedule your appointment.