How Do You Identify a Brain Injury After a Slip and Fall?

Slip and fall accidents can happen at any time, in any place. Hazards like spilled liquids, improperly stored equipment, uneven surfaces, and more can lead to serious accidents and severe injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI).

If you are injured in a slip and fall accident, it can be difficult to know whether you have experienced a TBI. There are a few symptoms that can help you identify a brain injury.

How Slips and Falls Can Lead to TBI

Traumatic brain damage can occur in one of two ways. First, you could experience a violent jolt or blow to the head when you slip and fall on a hard surface. This can lead to bruising, bleeding, and swelling in multiple areas of the brain.

Second, you could suffer a penetrating injury due to a foreign object piercing your skull. Depending on the area surrounding your slip and fall, you could experience a penetrating injury due to sharp metal, rocks, heavy equipment, debris, and other objects.

Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury

Symptoms of brain injuries can vary from person to person. Some symptoms may occur immediately, while others may not appear for days or weeks after the slip and fall accident.

The following symptoms are some of the most common signs of TBI.

• Persistent headaches
• Loss of consciousness
• Slurred speech
• Loss of coordination
• Vomiting or nausea
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Memory loss
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Mood changes
• Difficulty concentrating

You should always seek emergency medical attention after experiencing a head injury. If you experience any behavioral changes after a blow to the head, seek emergency care as soon as you can. Brain injuries can result in long-term complications, and the longer that you go without treatment, the more severe the damage will be. 

Recovering Compensation After a Slip and Fall Accident

Brain injuries can result in severe and lifelong complications. However, you may be eligible for financial compensation if you are injured in a slip and fall accident and suffer a TBI. By filing an insurance claim or lawsuit, you can secure a settlement to pay for medical care, lost wages, property damage, and other damages that you sustained in the accident.

To prove your claim, you will need to prove that the owner of the property where you had your accident is liable for your accident. In Washington, all property owners have a duty to maintain safe premises. They also have a responsibility to respond to hazards by fixing them as soon as possible or warning visitors of their presence. 

For example, say that you are visiting a grocery store when you slip and fall on a puddle of olive oil, resulting in a TBI. You discover that a bottle fell from the shelf and broke hours before you visited the store, but employees failed to clean it up or place a sign around the area. In this situation, the store failed to uphold its duty of care and would be liable for your brain injury.

If you plan on filing a claim after a slip and fall, you need an attorney on your side. As soon as possible after your injury, contact a Washington slip and fall accident lawyer to discuss your case and plan your next steps.