The violent impact of a slip and fall accident can lead to a wide range of injuries, and the most serious ones will obviously require immediate medical attention. You know to head to the ER or urgent care center immediately if you suffer excessive bleeding, broken bones, head injuries, or related trauma. However, it is also common for victims to suffer soft tissue injuries that they may not even realize. Medical professionals at Johns Hopkins Medicine define soft tissue injuries as trauma and damage to the various muscles, ligaments, and tendons throughout the body.
Florida premises liability laws allow you to recover compensation when a property owner’s negligence causes soft tissue injuries, but there can be challenges even when fault is clear. It is wise to retain a Miami slip and fall accident lawyer to tackle the legal burdens, but some background information is useful.
How Slip and Fall Accidents Cause Soft Tissue Injuries
Negligence is the reason slip, trip, and fall incidents occur, and there are many specific ways property owners can breach the duty to keep the premises safe. They may neglect to mop up spills, clean aisles and thoroughfares, or wrap up cords. A business owner might fail to secure rugs or flooring, causing a serious trip hazard. These forms of negligence can lead to such soft tissue injuries as:
- Whiplash, which is an injury to the neck and cervical spine caused by rapid forward back-and-forth movement of the head;
- Contusions, i.e., bruises;
- Tendonitis, inflammation of the tissues that connect muscle to bone;
- Ligament sprains and muscle strains; and,
- Bursitis, which is trauma to the tissues that provide cushioning around bones.
Challenges with Proving Soft Tissue Injuries
Your first step in the slip and fall legal process will be filing an insurance claim, and dealing with these companies is already tough. With soft tissue injuries, there can be additional obstacles. This type of trauma is typically not visible and may not even show up in an x-ray, CT-scan, MRI, or other imaging tests.
Another challenge when seeking monetary damages for soft tissue injuries is that many victims do not even realize they suffered trauma. They may experience pain or discomfort a few days or up to a week after the slip and fall accident. As a result, a victim may not have sought treatment right away. Insurers seize upon this opportunity to deny your claim, because delays in getting medical care mean you could not have been hurt badly. For this reason, it is always important to seek care right away.
Trust Our Miami Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys to Overcome Hurdles
Our team at Gerson & Schwartz, PA are prepared for the challenges that come with premises liability claims, so we are ready for the tactics insurance companies use to deny claims. Please contact our firm today to schedule a free consultation with a slip and fall lawyer. You can reach our offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach, FL by calling (305) 371-6000 or visiting us online.