Tripping and falling in a supermarket can lead to serious injuries, especially if you hit your head on the way down. If the fall results in a traumatic brain injury, it can have lifelong effects and lead to expensive medical bills and lost income. This article will examine what happens legally and medically if a slip and fall accident in a Florida supermarket causes a brain injury. A Panama City personal injury lawyer can assist help if you or a loved one suffered harm in a preventable slip and fall accident.
Seeking Medical Care After the Fall
After tripping and falling, the first priority is to seek medical care to assess any injuries. Signs of a concussion or brain injury include headache, dizziness, confusion, nausea, and loss of consciousness. Even if you feel fine immediately after the fall, a brain injury may have occurred internally, and symptoms can take time to appear. Getting prompt medical attention can diagnose a brain injury early and prevent further damage.
Doctors may perform scans like CT or MRI to check for bleeding or swelling in the brain. More severe brain injuries like hemorrhages, contusions, or skull fractures may require hospitalization, medications, or surgery. Milder concussions still require close monitoring as symptoms can worsen over the first days after an injury. Following doctor’s orders for rest and avoiding strenuous activities is crucial while recovering.
The Legal Process After a Supermarket Fall
After seeking medical care, the next step is exploring your legal options if the fall was caused by negligence. Slip and fall claims must prove the supermarket failed to maintain safe conditions, directly leading to your accident and damages. Our personal injury attorneys can help investigate fault, collect evidence like security footage, and negotiate a settlement or file a lawsuit if needed.
The supermarket may argue customer negligence contributed to the fall. But if hazards like wet floors, cluttered aisles, or poor lighting created unsafe conditions for shoppers, the store can share partial or full liability.
Long-Term Effects of Brain Injuries
Even after immediate recovery, brain injuries can have lasting cognitive, physical, and psychological consequences. Memory and concentration problems, chronic headaches, vertigo, and mood changes are common. More severe TBI can cause ongoing issues with speaking, vision, hearing, swallowing, balance, and controlling limbs. Patients may require extended rehabilitation to relearn skills impacted by their injury.
Personality and behavior alterations are also possible, like increased irritability or aggression. This places strain on personal relationships and the ability to work. Disabilities from a brain injury can prevent a return to a previous career. Financial hardship often results when a TBI survivor cannot work for an extended time or at all after the accident. Support groups and therapy help patients and families adapt to these difficult changes.
Traumatic Brain Injuries in the Long Run
Years down the road, those with moderate to severe TBI remain at higher risk for developing dementia, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative disorders. Even repeat concussions like those common in contact sports can have cumulative effects and cause chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Monitoring neurological health and promptly treating any emerging issues is important.
With proper medical care, legal support, and loved ones’ help adjusting to life after a brain injury, patients can still thrive and find meaning through new opportunities.
If you or a loved one has sustained a brain injury in a trip and fall, contact Monge & Associates for a free consultation. We have offices in 32 locations across 19 states, including Florida, Virginia, and Tennessee. Contact us today on (888) 477-0597.