A slip and fall can happen to anyone, anytime, and the consequences can be severe. Suffering a brain injury from a fall is not uncommon. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can impact your life long-term. Thus, one of the first things you should do after a slip-and-fall accident is to seek medical treatment immediately. You should also contact an experienced California brain injury lawyer at GJEL Accident Attorneys, who can help you preserve your rights and fight for compensation.
You may wonder what to do after hitting your head. The steps you take following a slip and fall can impact your potential personal injury claim and the damages you can recover. Read on to learn more about what to do following a slip and fall if you suspect a brain injury.
When to See a Doctor After a Fall
Your health should always be your top priority with a fall injury. If you hit your head in a slip-and-fall accident, you may be at risk for a brain injury. Even if you feel fine, seeking medical attention is vital. Symptoms of a brain injury can be immediate, or there could be a delayed onset. Symptoms to watch for include the following:
- Headache,
- Dizziness,
- Confusion or disorientation,
- Nausea or vomiting,
- Difficulty concentrating,
- Memory problems,
- Slurred speech,
- Blurred vision,
- Ringing in the ears,
- Sensitivity to light or sound,
- Loss of balance,
- Mood swings or irritability, and
- Fatigue.
If you experience any of these symptoms or are unsure about your condition, visit a doctor or emergency room immediately. They will perform a thorough examination, which may include tests such as a CT scan or MRI, to determine the extent of your injury.
Call 911 or seek emergency help right away if the injured person loses consciousness, has a seizure, vomits repeatedly, develops a worsening headache, shows unusual confusion or slurred speech, cannot move part of the body, has one pupil larger than the other, or has blood or fluid draining from the nose or ears. These can be signs of a serious brain injury that needs immediate treatment.
Common Types of Head Injuries in Slip-and-Fall Accidents
Several types of TBIs can result from a slip-and-fall accident. Some of the most common ones include:
- Concussions. This head injury can range from mild to severe. Although most people recover fully, multiple concussions can lead to long-term complications.
- Contusions. A contusion is a bruise of the brain tissue, which can occur when the head strikes a hard surface during a fall. Contusions may require surgery if they cause significant swelling or bleeding in the brain.
- Hematomas. A hematoma happens when the fall causes a blow to the head and damages the brain’s outer blood vessels. If left untreated, it can lead to loss of brain function.
If you hit your head during a fall, please seek medical treatment immediately. Head injuries are serious, and a delay in treatment could cause further damage.
Brain Injury Treatment Options
The treatment for a head injury will depend on the severity of the injury, your symptoms, and your diagnosis. Doctors might give you medication to reduce swelling. Severe brain injuries might require immediate surgery and round-the-clock monitoring in a hospital setting.
If you have long-term effects of a head injury, you might need rehabilitation to regain your lost cognitive, emotional, or physical abilities. For example, you might need physical, speech, and occupational therapy. Some victims need assistive devices following a brain injury, such as a wheelchair or a communication aid that will improve their quality of life.
If a doctor determines that the injury is mild and safe to manage at home, the first 24 to 48 hours still matter. Rest is important, including both physical rest and limiting activities that require heavy concentration. You may also be told to use a cold pack on swollen areas for 15 to 20 minutes at a time and to have a responsible adult monitor you for the first day in case symptoms get worse.
Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully when managing pain after a head injury. In many cases, acetaminophen may be recommended for headaches, while aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen may need to be avoided unless a doctor approves them because they can increase bleeding risk. It is also wise to avoid alcohol while you are being monitored and recovering because it can mask symptoms and slow healing.
Recovery is often gradual. Even after symptoms begin to improve, it is important to ease back into normal activity slowly and avoid sports or other high-risk activities until a healthcare provider says it is safe. A second head injury before the first one heals can cause much more serious harm.
Potential Damages for Brain Injury Victims
Victims of a TBI sustained in a slip-and-fall accident may be eligible for various types of damages, including:
- Medical expenses, including all past and future expected costs;
- Lost wages, including lost wages to date, anticipated future lost earnings, and loss of earning capacity;
- Pain and suffering for your physical pain and emotional distress caused by the brain injury; and
- Loss of consortium, which is for the impact on your relationships.
In some cases, you might be eligible for punitive damages. Punitive damages are only awarded when the responsible party’s actions were particularly egregious or reckless.
What to Do After a Slip-and-Fall Accident
You may not know what to do when you experience a slip-and-fall accident. Below are some steps that you can take to help preserve your legal claim. Remember, you should seek medical attention immediately if you’ve been injured in a fall.
Document the Accident Scene
If you can do so safely, gather evidence from the accident scene. This step can support your claim if you decide to pursue legal action. Try to take photos of the area where the accident occurred. Include pictures of any hazards that might have contributed to your fall, such as hazards on the ground, uneven surfaces, or poor lighting. Getting these photos at the scene is important because you can’t go back and recreate the exact setting. If your slip and fall occurred in a store, the manager or owner might correct the problem by the time you file a claim.
Did anyone witness the accident? If so, get their contact information. Your attorney will want to speak with them to discuss what they saw. Be sure to write down your account of the accident, including the date, time, and location. Include notes on anything leading up to and following the fall.
Notify the Property Owner or Manager
Reporting the accident is also crucial. Depending on where the fall occurred, you should inform a store manager, property owner, or government agency. Filing an incident report is necessary to present a claim for your head injury. If you fill out a report at the location, ask for a copy for your records.
First Aid Steps While Waiting for Help
If someone suffers a head injury in a fall, try to keep the person still while help is on the way. If possible, have them lie down with the head and shoulders slightly raised. If you suspect a neck or spinal injury, do not move them unless there is immediate danger. You can gently stabilize the head and neck by keeping them aligned with the spine.
If there is bleeding, apply firm pressure with a clean cloth unless you suspect a skull fracture, such as when there is a visible depression or deformity in the head. Watch the person’s breathing closely. If they stop breathing or coughing, begin CPR if you are trained to do so. If the person was wearing a helmet, do not remove it, because doing so could make a neck injury worse.
Consult with a California Slip-and-Fall Lawyer
Brain injuries can be complex, and navigating the legal system can be challenging. That’s why we recommend contacting experienced brain injury attorneys as soon as possible. At GJEL Accident Attorneys, we can help you understand your legal rights and help you pursue compensation for your injuries.
Some of the ways we will assist you when filing a brain injury claim include the following:
- Investigate the circumstances of your slip-and-fall accident;
- Determine liability for your brain injury;
- Negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf;
- Gather evidence to support your claim; and
- Calculate the full extent of your damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Remember that in California, you have limited time to file a personal injury claim. Under California law, you generally have two years from the accident date to file a lawsuit. However, specific circumstances may shorten or extend this deadline. Consulting with a knowledgeable attorney can ensure you don’t miss any crucial deadlines and jeopardize your potential recovery.
Contact a California Slip-and-Fall Lawyer at GJEL
It’s important to prioritize your health and well-being following a brain injury from a fall. You should follow all your doctor’s recommendations and attend all follow-up appointments.
Keep in mind that some brain injury symptoms do not fully appear until days or even weeks later. Ongoing headaches, memory problems, mood changes, or trouble concentrating should not be ignored. Continued medical follow-up can protect both your health and your injury claim by creating a clear record of how the fall affected you over time.
Hiring a slip-and-fall lawyer early on is also beneficial. You need to act quickly and protect your rights. At GJEL Accident Attorneys, our legal team can guide you through the complex process of pursuing a personal injury claim. We have years of experience helping victims recover compensation following a brain injury from a fall. Contact our office today to schedule an initial consultation to learn more. Let us handle all the stressful legal aspects of your claim so you can concentrate on your recovery.
Time is running out on your concussion case. California’s statute of limitations gives you limited time to file your claim, and crucial evidence is already starting to disappear. Insurance companies are counting on you to wait too long, hoping your case will weaken over time. Don’t give them that advantage. Top California concussion injury attorneys at GJEL are standing by 24/7 to provide your completely free case evaluation. We’ve recovered millions for brain injury victims just like you, and we don’t collect any fees unless we win your case. Call 1-866-268-7118 now before it’s too late to protect your family’s financial future.
Visit our office nearest to you.
