Many Slip and Fall Accidents Result in Brain Injuries

As a Kansas City slip and fall injury attorney, broken bones, fractured wrists, and twisted ankles are among the most common injuries our clients sustain after a slip and fall. However, brain injuries are also very common in slip and fall accidents in Missouri and Kansas. In fact, falls continue to be a leading cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the United States. Millions of people are treated each year in emergency rooms for falls resulting in TBIs or other brain injuries.

How Does a Fall Cause a Brain Injury?

brain injury slip and fall kansas city lawyer.pngAn individual may hit his or her head during the fall causing injuries to the head and brain. A closed head injury occurs when the head strikes an object causing damage to the skull and brain. A penetrating brain injury occurs if an object cracks the skull and enters the brain causing damage to that specific area of the brain. However, the head does not need to come into contact with an object for a brain injury to occur.

A person may also sustain a brain injury if the head is whipped backward and forward violently because of the fall, much like the brain injuries sustained from whiplash during a car accident. The brain “bounces” around within the skull because of the “whipping” motion. Each point of impact with the hard surface of the skull can cause damage to the brain. This type of head injury can cause severe brain damage to several areas of the brain.

Brain Injuries May Be Difficult to Detect and Worsen Over Time

When there are no outward signs of a brain injury, a medical provider may not correctly diagnose the injury. Furthermore, because the symptoms of a brain injury may not be immediately recognizable after a fall, an individual may not realize that he or she suffered a brain injury from the slip and fall accident. However, subtle symptoms may persist or grow worse, and new symptoms may develop as time passes.

It is important to recognize the symptoms of brain injuries so that your doctor can perform additional diagnostic tests to determine the severity of your brain injury. Common symptoms of TBI and other brain injuries include:

  • Headaches
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • Sensitivity to light and/or sound
  • Slurred speech
  • Blurry vision
  • Problems with concentration, balance, or sleep
  • Ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus
  • Confusion 
  • Changes in emotional state or unusual behaviors
  • Tingling or numbness in the toes, feet, hands, or fingers
  • Seizures or convulsions

Children may experience different symptoms, including loss of appetite, changes in sleep habits, extreme fussiness, loss of interest in playing, and persistent crying. 

It is also important to remember that someone who experiences a brain injury may lose consciousness, but a loss of consciousness is not a requirement for a brain injury.

Contact a Kansas City Brian Injury, Slip and Fall Attorney for Help

The physical, emotional, and financial damages caused by a brain injury from a slip and fall accident can be significant. You may be entitled to substantial compensation for your damages.

Contact The Law Office of Kevin J. McManus at 816-203-0143 for a free consultation with a Kansas City personal injury lawyer. Our free, no obligation case review is confidential and our goal is to answer all your questions and provide you with solid information regarding your claim, regardless of whether you hire our law firm.

Our law firm assists clients throughout Missouri and Kansas.  We would be honored to help you learn more about your rights after slip and fall accident involving a brain injury or any other type of injury, so please contact us today.

 

Kevin J. McManus
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Kevin McManus is an accident injury and disability lawyer in Kansas City, MO, and Overland Park, KS