Falling down is something that happens to just about everyone at some point in their lives. Hopefully, you end up with some minor bruises and scrapes that can be treated at home. Unfortunately, fall accidents, like slip and falls, have a tendency to cause serious injuries, including damage to the bones, nerves, and tissues in your neck.
The neck is a very complex area of the body, with more moving parts that most people realize. When there is an injury to the neck from an unexpected fall, it can easily affect other parts of the body, especially if the injury is significant enough to cause loss of function, paralysis, or chronic pain.
In this article, we will explore the various causes of why you are having neck pain after a slip and fall incident. If the harm you suffered was caused by someone else’s negligence, you have the right to file a claim for monetary compensation, which we can help you with here at Normandie Law Firm. Your right to a lawsuit is based on the concept of premises liability, which holds owners responsible when dangerous conditions on their property cause injury to another party. Examples of hazards that can cause or contribute to a slip and fall accident include:
- Spilled water on the floor
- Leaking pipes and plumbing fixtures
- Oil, grease, and food left on the floor
- Loose wires and cords
- Dirty floors in the bathroom
- Missing or uneven flooring
- Broken or improperly designed handrails
- Poor lighting
- No Wet Floor signs around spills
- Residue from cleaning products left on the floor
- Improper cleaning methods (using the wrong product, not wiping up the product completely)
- Oil stains in parking lots and garages
- Snow and ice on sidewalks
- No anti-slip mats in showers and tubs
- Buildup of algae and slime on pavements and public bathrooms
- Worn out section on tiles and carpets (loss of traction)
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What can Cause Neck Pain after a Slip and Fall?
Neck pain after a slip and fall can indicate a wide variety of injuries to the neck, back, and spinal cord. These include, but are not limited to:
- Muscle strain – typically a lower back injury, but the neck muscles can sometimes get strained from the impact of a slip and fall, resulting in decreased range of motion and considerable discomfort.
- Whiplash – due to the neck snapping forward and back during an accident and causing damage to the soft tissues. Symptoms of whiplash after a slip and fall include neck pain, stiffness, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), headaches, and pain in other areas like the shoulders, arms, and upper back
- Neck sprain – pain, swelling, and limited range of motion after a trip and fall or slip and fall may be signs of a neck sprain.
- Herniated disc – also referred to as a slipped disc, this is a condition where the substance inside the disc leaks out to due to a rupture.The substance can seep into the surrounding tissue, causing nerve irritation that results in pain, numbness, or weakness in the neck, shoulders, and arms.
- Cervical dislocation – if a vertebra in the cervical region slips out of alignment, it can cause a separation in the spinal column, which is painful and potentially dangerous due to the possibility damage the spinal cord.
- Spinal cord injury – occurs when the portion of the spinal cord in the neck is damaged. This is a potentially fatal injury, but even if the person survives, they may end up with permanent paralysis from below the neck.
- Broken neck – fracturing of the cervical bones in the neck, which can cause paralysis or death.
As you can see, pain, stiffness, and other unusual symptoms in the neck after a slip and fall can indicate a serious injury that must be treated right away. This is why medical attention is so important if you have an accident, so please don’t delay in calling 911 or going to a hospital if you fall down and hurt yourself.
Average Value of a Slip and Fall Injury Settlement
Compensation amounts for a slip and fall that results in neck pain can fall within the range of $15,000 to $1,000,000 and above. The type of injury, long-term complications, and many other factors will determine how much you can receive. For example, those with nerve damage may require physical therapy and medications for the rest of their lives. They may also have to give up their job or reduce their work hours due to lasting pain and limited mobility, even after surgery. This is why many of these lawsuits settle for $150,000 or more, but how much you will end up depends on many details we must go over with you in person. For a detailed discussion with a fall accident injury lawyer, please give us a call.
Reaching a Settlement – How Long Does it Take?
If you are expected to achieve full recovery with no lasting complications, your case may be settled in less than 6 months. If, on the other hand, you sustain serious injuries that require surgery, physical therapy, and other expensive treatments, it can take between 12 and 18 months to reach a settlement. If it’s likely that you will be disabled or develop a permanent health condition due to the severity of your injury, it’s possible that 2 or more years will be needed to secure the amount of compensation you deserve. Please note that these are estimates of how long it can take to settle a slip and fall lawsuit. If you would like to learn more about the length of time it may take to settle you case, reach out to a fall accident injury lawyer at our office.
What is the Deadline to Sue for a Slip and Fall?
Under California law, lawsuits for accidents caused by negligent property owners have a deadline of 2 years. That means you have 2 years from the date of injury to file a claim for monetary damages, like medical expenses and pain and suffering. In the event you fail to file your lawsuit within this time period, your right to sue will most likely be invalidated, so it’s essential that you start the legal process right away.
Please be aware that claims for accidents caused by government departments and employees have a deadline of only
6 months. So, as an example, if you slipped and fell down because of water leaking from a pipe in a city building, you have 6 months from the accident date to file a claim. Each government entity has its own claim forms and procedures, which we can go over with you during a free consultation. It’s very easy to make mistakes or leave out information when it comes to a government claim, so please be sure to have a lawyer assist you if you are suing a public entity for a slip and fall accident.
Zero Fee Guarantee
Our law firm believes in free legal representation for anyone who was injured by another party’s negligence. With that in mind, the slip and fall lawyers of Normandie are happy to offer you a Zero Fee Guarantee if you wish to hire us for a slip and fall accident claim. The cost of legal fees is calculated into the settlement we demand on your behalf, so our payment is based on winning your case and recovering your compensation award.
We are here for you day and night if you have questions or concerns about suing for injuries caused by a slip and fall. Contact us today and schedule a free case evaluation.
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