Common Brain Injuries From Slip and Fall Accidents

Brain scan showing a traumatic brain injury.

Slip and fall accidents often happen in grocery stores, properties, malls, big box stores, casinos, and work sites. Often, these accidents result in individuals hitting their heads against the ground or other solid surfaces. Despite the immediate embarrassment and seemingly minor nature of these falls, the consequent brain injuries from slip and fall accidents can lead to serious complications, including behavioral changes, personality shifts, emotional disturbances, and cognitive difficulties.

Symptoms such as nausea, confusion, coordination challenges, headaches, seizures, vision disturbances, or slurred speech post-fall suggest the possibility of a head injury.

Common types of brain injuries from slip and falls

Some of the most common types of brain injuries from slip and fall accidents include:

Contusion

A brain contusion is a bruise on the brain that results from a direct impact to the head and causes bleeding within the brain tissue. This injury can range from mild cases that may resolve without intervention to severe ones that could require surgical removal. Contusions can lead to swelling and additional pressure inside the skull. It can also potentially cause long-term neurological issues depending on their size and location.

Concussion

A concussion is a type of brain injury caused by a blow to the head or a sudden jolt that shakes the brain inside the skull. It can lead to temporary cognitive symptoms such as headaches, confusion, memory loss, and changes in mood or behavior. Despite often being considered mild, concussions require proper medical evaluation and time to heal. They can have significant short-term and long-term effects on brain function.

Hematoma

A hematoma is a collection of blood outside of blood vessels. It's caused by an injury or trauma that forces blood to leak from the vessels into surrounding tissues. It can create a clot that can cause pressure and swelling in the affected area. Depending on its location and severity, a hematoma may require medical intervention to alleviate symptoms and prevent complications.

The types of brain hematomas include:

Brain hematomas are categorized based on their location within the skull and brain, each with its own implications for symptoms, severity, and treatment. The main types include:

Epidural hematoma: These are typically caused by a skull fracture that tears the middle meningeal artery. It occurs between the dura mater and the skull.
Subdural hematoma: This forms beneath the dura mater and outside the brain tissue. It can lead to torn bridging veins and potentially life-threatening acute cases or slower-developing chronic conditions.
Intracerebral hematoma: This involves bleeding within the brain tissue. This can lead to increased intracranial pressure and potentially cause severe brain damage.

Closed head injury

A closed head injury occurs when there is an impact to the head that doesn't penetrate the skull. This type of injury can result from blunt force trauma. Despite the absence of an open wound, closed head injuries can be severe, leading to bruising of the brain tissue, tearing of blood vessels, and swelling, potentially causing life-threatening brain damage.

Diffuse axonal injury is one of the most severe types of closed head injuries. This occurs when the axons become damaged due to rapid acceleration and deceleration forces. This causes tears to the brain's long connecting nerve fibers and widespread damage across multiple areas of the brain.

What should I do if I sustained a brain injury in a slip and fall?

If you hit your head in a slip and fall, get medical attention as soon as possible. Head and brain injuries can lead to complications if not promptly treated. If you're able to, document the location where your slip and fall accident happened and take pictures. Then, get help from an experienced personal injury lawyer at Lasso Injury Law LLC.

We understand the pain and suffering you may be going through due to a head injury. Our legal team can investigate your slip and fall accident and find out where negligence occurred. We can also determine how much money you're entitled to and fight to recover every dollar you deserve. We can answer any questions you have and learn more about your situation during a free consultation. Contact us online or call our Las Vegas law office to find out how we can help.