Slip and fall accidents are among the most common personal injury claims in Virginia and across the country. They can cause injuries ranging from minor cuts and scrapes to broken bones and spinal cord injuries. In some cases, an injury may not be obvious in the moments immediately following the accident. In fact, some of the most serious slip and fall injuries are called “hidden injuries” because the individual may not experience symptoms until hours, days, or even weeks after the accident. This can result in delayed treatment, which can allow the injury to become more serious and difficult to treat.
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident, but the symptoms of your injuries were delayed, an experienced Virginia Beach slip and fall lawyer will assist you with the claims process and recover the maximum damages to which you are entitled.
What Causes Hidden Injuries After a Slip and Fall Accident?
According to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), approximately 8 million people visit hospitals each year because of slip and fall accidents, many of which cause hidden injuries. In order to understand what causes hidden injuries, it helps to have a general understanding of how the body responds when you suddenly slip and fall. Once you start to fall, muscles tighten, joints twist, and certain parts of your body absorb a tremendous amount of force once you hit the floor. The following factors can prevent you from experiencing symptoms in the moments following the accident:
- Rush of adrenaline. Anytime you experience a scary or stressful moment, your body releases adrenaline hormones, which temporarily block pain signals from reaching your brain.
- Slow build of inflammation. If you suffered a soft-tissue injury or a joint injury, you may not experience pain or other symptoms right away because it can take 24 to 72 hours for swelling to build up or damaged tissue to become inflamed. While you may feel fine a few hours after the accident, the pain may be significant 24 to 48 hours after the accident.
What Are Examples of Hidden Injuries From Slip and Fall Accidents?
While you may not experience severe pain or other obvious symptoms right away, there are other symptoms you should be aware of that may be warning signs of a delayed-onset injury that requires immediate medical attention, including the following:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs). It can take several days for symptoms of a TBI to appear. Untreated TBIs can cause serious, long-term cognitive problems that affect work, school, and daily activities. Common symptoms of a TBI include:
– Persistent headaches
– Dizziness
– Nausea
– Confusion
– Memory problems
– Difficulty concentrating
– Blurred vision
– Increased sensitivity to light or noise
– Mood changes
– Trouble sleeping - Neck injuries. Depending on the nature of the fall, if it caused the head to snap backward and forward, a slip and fall accident can cause whiplash, as well as the following symptoms that may appear several days after the accident:
– Neck pain
– Reduced range of motion
– Shoulder pain
– Headaches
– Muscle stiffness
– Tingling in the arms - Wrist and hand injuries. People often instinctively reach out their hand to break their fall. While this may help prevent serious head injuries, the force of impact to the wrist and hand can cause the following hidden injuries:
– Hairline fractures
– Torn ligaments
– Tendon injuries
– Nerve damage - Back injuries. These are among the most common types of hidden injuries after a slip and fall accident. Examples of back injuries include:
– Herniated discs
– Muscle strains
– Ligament injuries
– Pinched nerves
– Compression fractures
Depending on the type of injury, symptoms of a hidden back injury include the following:
– Sharp back pain
– Pain that radiates into the legs
– Numbness
– Weakness
– Difficulty walking
– Muscle spasms - Soft-tissue injuries, sprains, and tears. When you fall, the muscles, tendons, and ligaments often stretch beyond their normal range, which can cause micro-tears in the tissue. Common symptoms include stiffness that gets progressively worse over several days.
- Hip injuries. These are particularly common in older adults. Oftentimes, people assume that they only suffered minor bruising when the fall actually caused a hairline fracture, torn ligament, cartilage damage, or a labral tear. These can cause a range of symptoms, including:
– Difficulty walking
– Pain while standing
– Groin pain
– Limited range of motion
– Swelling - Hairline fractures. Unlike a complete break, which will have immediate and obvious symptoms, a hairline fracture is a tiny crack in the bone that may not be visible without detailed imaging like an MRI or a CT scan. Symptoms include pain, swelling, tenderness, and bruising at the site of the injury.
- Internal bleeding. If you land on an object when you fall, it can inflict trauma to your internal organs without even breaking the skin. If you notice any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical attention, as this can be a life-threatening emergency:
– Deep bruising around the abdomen or belly
– Sudden dizziness
– Faintness
– Cold, clammy skin hours after the fall - Psychological injuries. In addition to the physical injuries, a serious slip and fall accident can cause anxiety, depression, insomnia, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which can impact your ability to work, maintain personal and professional relationships, and enjoy everyday activities.
What Are the Risks of Delaying Treatment for a Hidden Injury?
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident in Virginia Beach, identifying the more subtle symptoms of a hidden injury can help you avoid the following complications that can arise if you delay treatment:
- Health complications. If you ignore even the most subtle, seemingly minor symptoms, the injury can become more serious and difficult to treat. For example, an untreated concussion can progress to post-concussion syndrome, which can cause long-term cognitive difficulties.
- Legal complications. If your hidden injury was caused by the negligence of the property owner, you may be entitled to financial compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other losses. However, there are legal challenges you should be aware of if you pursue a personal injury claim, including the following:
– Medical gap issue. Insurance adjusters will look for any reason to deny a claim. If you delayed getting medical attention after the slip and fall accident, the insurance company may argue that your injuries must not be very serious if you did not find it necessary to seek treatment. They may also claim that your injury was caused by something else during that gap of time. - Virginia’s “contributory negligence” rule. Virginia is one of the few states that follows this strict legal standard. It states that if you are found to be even 1% at fault for your slip and fall accident, you are prohibited from recovering any damages. They may even try to use your own words against you to place some of the blame on you to avoid having to award you any damages.
- Statute of limitations. If you plan to file a personal injury lawsuit after suffering a hidden injury in a slip and fall accident, your claim must be filed within two years from the date of the accident. If you file your claim after the statute of limitations expires, your claim will likely be denied, and you will be unable to recover any damages.
What Steps Should I Take After a Slip and Fall Accident in Virginia?
There are several steps you should take if you suffered a hidden injury in a slip and fall accident in Virginia, including the following:
- Seek immediate medical attention. Go to an urgent care facility or your primary physician right away, even if your injury seems minor. Inform the healthcare provider that you were involved in a slip and fall accident so that they can conduct a thorough examination and run the appropriate tests to rule out any hidden injuries.
- Report the accident. Notify the property owner, manager, or landlord about the fall. Request that an official incident report be filed and ask for a copy for your records.
- Take pictures of the accident scene. Take pictures of the hazard that caused you to fall, including torn carpeting, a missing handrail, or a spill that had no warning sign. Keep your torn or dirty clothing as evidence.
- Obtain witness statements. If there were witnesses who saw your fall and can support your claim that the property owner was negligent, ask if they would be willing to provide an official statement and ask for their contact information.
- Keep detailed records of expenses. Maintain a detailed journal describing your pain levels, missed work hours, doctor appointments, and out-of-pocket costs for medication and medical equipment.
An Experienced Virginia Beach Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer at Anchor Legal ® Represents Victims of Hidden Injuries After a Slip and Fall Accident
If you suffered a hidden injury in a slip and fall accident in Virginia, do not hesitate to contact a Virginia Beach slip and fall accident lawyer at Anchor Legal ®. We will assist you with every step of the claims process, ensure that your legal rights are protected, and pursue the maximum financial compensation you deserve for your hidden injury. We will continue to fight for you until you are completely satisfied. To schedule a free consultation, call today at 757-LAW-0000 or contact us online. Located in Virginia Beach, we proudly serve clients in the surrounding areas.