Most people assume that a car accident poses the biggest risk they face of ever having a traumatic brain injury (TBI) — but the reality is much scarier.
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), slips and falls are actually responsible for one-third of all TBIs. If you happen to be over 65 years of age, a fall is the number one reason you could end up with a TBI.
How slip-and-fall accidents happen
While many slip-and-fall accidents can happen inside your own home, you can be exposed to danger just about anywhere you go. While shopping at the grocery store, heading into your doctor’s office for an appointment or walking through your workplace, you could encounter:
- Rugs that slip out from under your feet because they have no backing
- Steps that have been left to deteriorate and break under your weight
- Hard tile floors that have been over-waxed and polished until they are slick
- Mud and water that has accumulated around a store’s entrance
- Poor lighting in stairwells or in areas where the ground or floor is uneven
- Cables and extension cords on the floor where people walk
- Carpets that are loose or frayed that may catch a heel
- Uneven flooring without any warning about level changes or slopes
It only takes a second for a fall to change your entire life. If you hit your head, you can end up with long-term complications that affect your personal and financial stability. The recovery period from a TBI can continue for the rest of your life.
How to protect yourself after a TBI
It can be difficult to assess the true consequences of a TBI on your life without help. Working with an attorney can help you obtain fair compensation for your losses and enable you to protect your future.