If you are like most people in Virginia, you give little if any thought to the risks you face of sustaining a fall as you go about your daily activities. But whether from an uneven sidewalk, a wet grocery store floor, a parking lot car curb or numerous other hidden dangers, slip and fall hazards exist in far too many places.
Unfortunately, should you slip and fall, you likely will hit your head on a hard and unforgiving surface. This, in turn, can result in a traumatic brain injury. The Mayo Clinic explains that when you sustain a blow to your head, it causes your brain to move inside your skull, potentially severely injuring its extremely delicate nerves and tissues. And falls represent the number one cause of TBIs.
TBI consequences
No two TBIs are the same, and a similar event such as a slip and fall can result in radically different symptoms and disabilities in different people. Even if you honestly believe you sustained only a minor bump to your head from your slip and fall, you nevertheless should get yourself thoroughly checked out by a knowledgeable and experienced physician. If you did indeed receive a TBI, the sooner (s)he begins treating you, the better chance you will have of minimizing the effects of your injury.
Even with the proper treatment, TBIs are very scary injuries that can lead to lifelong disabilities that can drastically decrease your quality of life and possibly leave you unable to work. In a worst-case scenario, you could require an in-home caregiver to provide you with the help you need to do many normal everyday tasks such as walking, dressing, bathing, eating, etc.
TBI costs
Needless to say, a slip-and-fall TBI can result in your facing enormous medical and other costs, not just initially, but also for years to come. If you require hospitalization, such costs likely will include the following:
- Surgery
- Prescription medications
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Possible assisted living expenses
This is general educational information and not intended to provide legal advice.