You should never shrug off a slip-and-fall injury

A slip-and-fall is not an injury in itself; it is only the cause. After auto accidents, it is also the most common kind of accidental injury.

If such an injury happens to you, you may think you can just shrug it off, but think again. Many parts of your body can be affected by a slip-and-fall incident, and an injury may be more serious that it seems at the outset.

Sudden and stunning

Many circumstances can cause a slip-and-fall accident: a slick floor, an uneven sidewalk, dim lighting or an obstacle in your path. The suddenness of the incident can be a shock. Once you slip, you may have no control over how you fall or how hard you hit the ground or an object on the way down, such as the edge of a table, for example. Your first thought will probably be, “Did I break anything?”

Common injuries

Common injuries caused by a fall include sprains, strains, cuts and abrasions. However, a slip-and-fall can also result in broken bones, anything from a minor fracture to a serious break that requires surgery. Hips, wrists, ankles and knees are often at risk. One of the more severe injuries you could suffer, and one of the most costly, is a spinal cord injury, which could cause paralysis.

Unseen injuries

Sometimes the result of a slip-and-fall is not visible. You may have a soft tissue injury that only begins to cause you discomfort or pain days later, such as a herniated disk or a torn ligament. If you hit your head, you could have a concussion, or a much more serious traumatic brain injury that could alter your ability to function. A personal injury attorney will tell you that it is very important for you to seek medical attention immediately, not only for the sake of your health but because timely evaluation and the resulting medical records will be essential to your case if you wish to seek financial compensation for your injury.