A slip-and-fall is a same-level fall generally caused by debris or slick floor surfaces. People lose their traction and end up falling. Most of the time, people walk away from slip-and-fall incidents with minor injuries.
However, people can sustain injuries that are serious enough to require professional medical care. In some cases, they may miss multiple days of work. In the worst cases, people may find themselves incapable of continuing their chosen careers.
When could a slip-and-fall force a person to take time away from work?
When the job requires physical work
Many professionals, ranging from nurses in hospitals to customer service professionals, have to perform physical tasks for work. People with soft tissue injuries, such as whiplash, may not be able to perform functions for weeks until their pain level subsides. Broken bones can also cause eight weeks or more of lost wages if professionals cannot do their jobs safely with an immobilized body part.
When the person hits their head
The worst-case scenario in a slip-and-fall isn’t a sprain or broken bone. It is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). People who hit their heads on the floor, the walls or nearby fixtures when they fall can develop TBIs.
Moderate to severe TBIs can cause permanent symptoms that change a person’s physical capabilities and cognitive capacity. Even white-collar professionals who do not perform physical job tasks could become incapable of continuing their careers after acquiring a TBI in a slip-and-fall.
Seeking medical attention after a slip-and-fall can help injured people get the care that they require. Injured people may need help filing insurance claims or preparing for a premises liability lawsuit after a slip-and-fall causes significant injuries, and that’s okay.