Did your shopping trip end with an extended stay in the hospital?

Was it more embarrassing than painful when you recently slipped and fell in the supermarket — only to suffer a variety of aches and pains the next morning? You are not alone because slip and fall hazards in supermarkets and other stores are common, and going for a proper medical examination after such a fall is often necessary. Some Georgia residents do not realize that they are entitled to pursue recovery of medical expenses and other damages through the civil justice system after these unfortunate incidents.

Different injuries can result from slips and falls. Many of these accidents occur when a person steps into a wet patch on the floor and his or her feet slide forward, causing the body to fall backward. Uneven surfaces also can cause people to trip and fall forward, instinctively putting out their hands to break their falls. The direction in which you fall determines the types and severity of injuries you suffer, and your age may also play a significant role in the extent of your injuries.

Typical fall injuries

The negligence of a store owner could change your life in the blink of an eye. Here is a list of injuries that often follow slips and falls:

• TBI and spinal cord injuries — These typically follow a backward fall when a person suffers a knock to the head when it hits the floor or another hard object. The victim could suffer a concussion or, in more serious cases, severe brain damage that could even cause death. Furthermore, any whiplash motion of the neck and head during the fall can also cause spinal cord injuries that may result in permanent damage with life-long financial implications.
• Bone fractures — Falling backward and landing on your buttocks can cause hip fractures, and falling forward could cause fractures in your arms or wrists.
• Shoulder injuries — This type of injury can result from any fall but is more common in forward falls. The rotator cuff is an important anatomical structure with the function of holding your shoulder joint in place, and tears, sprains or strains can cause excruciating pain.
• Knee injuries — Even trying to prevent a fall can cause damage to your knees. The sudden twist of your leg can tear a ligament and damage cartilage, or it can cause a dislocation of the knee joint. This can cause significant pain every time you put weight on your leg — if you can even put any weight on your leg at all.
• Back and neck injuries – A slip and fall accident can sometimes cause a whiplash injury as severe as that which can occur in a car accident. Headaches, pain, limited neck motion and tingling or numbness in your hands and arms can cause you permanent discomfort. Similar damage to your legs and feet can result from landing on your buttocks.

Any one or combination of these injuries can have long-term health and financial consequences, and there is no reason why a negligent store owner shouldn’t be held liable for your damages. An experienced premises liability attorney can help you navigate this complicated field of law in pursuit for recovery of damages. Along with compensation for medical expenses, your attorney can determine and fight for other losses related to income loss and emotional damages such as pain and suffering and loss of life enjoyment.