Regan Zambri Long’s Washington, DC slip and fall lawyers know that the most serious consequences of a fall can go far beyond a trip to the emergency room. Many slip and fall accidents will result in scrapes and bruising, and minor sprains, but others lead to far more serious and lasting consequences. A fall can cause injuries that affect mobility, cognitive function, emotional well-being, and long-term financial stability. Even injuries that seem minor at first may worsen over time or lead to chronic complications.
A single accident can lead to ongoing medical care, lasting pain, missed work, and financial pressure that affects every part of your life. Many people do not realize how much a fall can change their daily routine, their independence, and their future until they are living with the results.
Contact Regan Zambri Long today, and one of our attorneys will reach out personally for a free consultation. Since 1997, we have helped people injured by unsafe property conditions across Washington, DC and we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There’s no fee unless we win your case.
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Here are the more common serious injuries that result from slip and falls:
Unlike cuts, bruises, and scrapes, soft tissue injuries are not as widely visible at the time of the slip and fall. Rather, these can take days or even weeks to emerge.
Common soft tissue injuries include:
While alone these injuries are treatable, some victims do not seek treatment because they do not appear immediately. When left unattended, soft tissue injuries can lead to chronic pain, and make you more susceptible to future injuries.
According to the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC), one out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury.
Just like soft tissue injuries, not all head and spinal cord injuries are as obvious right away. Even if the fall was minor, if you hit your head or back, be sure to seek medical attention.
If there is swelling, bleeding, or loss of consciousness — even only briefly — you need to get a medical evaluation. While a minor concussion can clear up on its own, traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can impact your life permanently when not treated properly.
Further, if you have suffered an impact to your spinal cord, it will be imperative that you have it evaluated quickly; spinal cord injuries get more severe as they travel up the spinal cord, often resulting in quadriplegia or paraplegia.
Broken bones can be incredibly painful and scary as they are an immediate injury from the fall. The elderly are especially vulnerable to broken hips. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 300,000 older adults suffer hip fracture-related hospitalizations each year. You not only have to worry about the bone healing, but the potential of life-long therapy to prevent or manage chronic pain associated with the injury.
Data from the National Safety Council shows that falls are by far the most common cause of preventable death among adults 75 and older, with 34,750 recorded deaths in this age range in 2023 alone. Common in older adults who fall, anxiety is highly prevalent and can have lasting impacts on the quality of life the victim has. One study suggests that older people who fall, even if they’re not injured, become afraid of falling. The anxiety then causes the person to limit their daily activities, decreasing their body strength, and increasing their likelihood of falling in the future.
In other cases, the anxiety may become so severe that victims develop post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), greatly impacting their socialization and quality of life.
In addition to the health ramifications of a fall, one of the most serious consequences for non-fatal slip and falls is actually financial.
Of course, your first priority following a slip and fall accident is your health and safety. But what happens after the fall is also serious. In fact, your finances following a slip and fall accident have the potential to be the most serious consequence.
From injury related expenses to therapy for psychological recovery–all of these bills can add up.
In addition to the expenses you may incur, you may also suffer from lost wages while you recover, or you may not even be able to return to work. This means that while you are accumulating more bills, the others are adding up.
At Regan Zambri Long, we know how catastrophic a slip and fall accident can be. This is why we have a dedicated team who can help you on the road to recovery.
For almost three decades, our attorneys have represented personal injury victims throughout Washington, DC, including clients injured in serious slip and fall and premises liability cases, recovering over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts. We are recognized as one of the Best Law Firms in America, with all six partners named among the nation’s 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers. Members of our team have also been recognized on multiple occasions as Washington, DC Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers and the District of Columbia Trial Lawyers Association for their work in complex personal injury and trial litigation.
If unsafe conditions on someone else’s property have harmed you or a loved one, resulting in financial loss and serious injury, you may have legal options to recover compensation through a slip and fall lawsuit.
Call 202-960-4596 or connect with us online to learn more.
Under DC Code §12-301, most personal injury claims from slips and falls must be filed within three years of the date of the accident. Failing to file within this time frame can prevent you from pursuing compensation. Acting quickly also helps preserve important evidence, including surveillance footage, incident reports, and witness statements.
Yes. Some injuries do not fully show symptoms right away. Joint damage, nerve injuries, and soft tissue injuries can become more serious if they are not properly diagnosed and treated.
A pre-existing condition does not prevent you from bringing a claim. If the fall worsened an existing injury, you may still seek compensation for the additional harm caused by the accident.
Serious fall injuries can limit your ability to return to your previous job or perform certain tasks. Some people require extended recovery time or changes to their work responsibilities due to ongoing physical or cognitive limitations.
Important evidence may include incident reports, photographs of the hazard, surveillance footage, maintenance records, medical documentation, and witness statements. Preserving this information early can help support your claim.
Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.