People often think of injuries that are more physical when they think about serious injuries sustained due to an accident. A slip and fall injury often results in broken bones and traumatic brain injuries.
In the UK, a slip and fall injury is the most common type of personal injury people frequently experience at work.
However, most victims of such serious accidents might experience severe mental stress, anxiety and severe depression due to (if any) inability and/ or chronic pain. While they may not be as obvious as physical wounds, mental and emotional trauma can be very damaging and interfere with a person’s life.
People frequently fail to report personal injury accidents if they believe they were at fault because they were careless, distracted, or didn’t sustain injuries. But before we move on to how to file a claim for such an injury, let’s discuss why you must file a claim and not suffer in silence. But first, let’s move on to the mind and bodily concerns caused during and after a slip and fall injury.
Mind and Body Reaction During and After a Slip and Fall Accident
Slip and falls frequently occur without warning. Therefore, it’s normal for the human body to respond actively and sharply to an accident. The “fight or flight” hormone, adrenaline, may flood your body as you begin to fall. However, while adrenaline takes over during a slip and fall accident, Cortisol (the stress hormone) takes over your body after the accident. Harvard Health states that this severe stress reaction can result in the following:
- Heavily quicken breathing
- Heart palpitations or pounding
- Twisted and tensed muscles
- Sweating due to hyper-ventilation
- Low or high blood pressure
- Bluish skin due to short-term hypoxia
- Memory lapse or short-term amnesia
Thus, you become more aware of what is going on due to the stress response, but your mind shuts down the pain receptors. That is why you feel numb immediately after a fall. However, if it reacts soon enough, your body may stiffen up and reach out to catch your fall. Unfortunately, getting further hand, arm, or shoulder injuries is possible while trying to catch yourself.
Physical And Mental Health Concerns After a Slip and Fall Injury
Having a slip and fall accident can have a variety of physical effects. The concerns caused by a slip and fall might differ depending on the person, their health, the type of fall, and other factors. However, there are certain mental and physical health issues that almost every faces. So, let’s examine what might transpire in your body and mind during and after a slip and fall accident.
What Happens to Your Body After a Slip and Fall?
There are no criteria for what kind of injuries you’d incur after a slip and fall accident because everyone experiences a fall differently. However, the following are the typical minor to severe injuries that might result from slip and fall accidents:
1. Ankle or Wrist Sprains
Sprains frequently occur after a fall and a slip. For example, your wrists or ankles may twist or strain when you reach out to break your fall. These sprains can make walking, typing, or other necessary everyday chores challenging.
2. Broken or Fracture Hips
Falls typically cause broken hips, which more commonly harm women than men. Therefore, living with a hip fracture can be quite problematic. Although anyone can get a broken hip from a fall, older adults are particularly at risk.
3. Spinal Cord Injuries
Your spinal cord travels from the base of your skull to just above your tailbone. A fall could harm or injure the spinal column, which could cause nerve compression or other problems. Paralysis or other permanent disabilities are equally possible after a spinal cord injury.
4. Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Slip and fall accidents frequently result in traumatic brain injuries or TBI. TBIs can get worse if it’s not treated right away. So, seek medical attention immediately if you bang your head during a slip and fall injury. TBI symptoms can include:
- Headaches or migraines
- Nausea and vomiting
- Unexplained dizziness
- Blurry vision
- Memory loss and confusion
5. Bruising and Cuts
It’s possible to trip and fall on anything sharp or another object, resulting in cuts or bruising. Severe cuts might leave behind scars or other deformities. Bruises can be extremely painful and restrict movement for a significant period.
What Happens to Your Mind After a Slip and Fall Injury?
Although mental health issues are non-physical, their effects are very much physical and concrete. There are very real repercussions for people who develop any mental condition after an accident. The following are some of the mental health concerns that are likely to arise after a slip and fall injury:
1. Sleep Problems and Disorder
Following a slip and fall accident, people may experience problems with their sleep patterns. Either they may experience insomnia and struggle to obtain enough sleep, or they may develop problems with nightmares and constant flashbacks.
2. Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
After a slip and fall accident, some people may experience anxiety. People who have experienced traumatising injury may become prone to anxiety attacks when reminded of it. In addition, people can experience generalised anxiety disorder, which significantly impacts their behaviour.
3. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Depression may arise following a slip and fall injury for several reasons. People may sustain lifelong wounds, chronic pain or disabilities that significantly change their lives. It results in a loss of interest and disengagement from the activities they once loved, which leads to loneliness and sadness.
4. Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)
Someone who experiences trauma from a slip and fall accident may have acute stress disorder. If a person cannot adequately absorb and recover from a traumatic event. Therefore, they cannot win from the constant vigilance and persistent anxiety leading to severe stress.
5. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
There is a good possibility that someone who has acute stress disorder for longer than four weeks will also develop post-traumatic stress disorder. People with PTSD frequently struggle to return to their regular life and experience significant symptoms that interfere with their work and daily activities.
Let’s Sum it Up!
We know that the circumstances that lead to a slip and fall injury are frequently the fault of another party. However, if you slip and fall and don’t disclose it, the danger that led to the accident is still there and could harm other people.
Don’t ever assume that a slip and fall accident you had didn’t cause you any significant harm. Even minor mishaps can have long-lasting mental health effects. The effects of a slip and fall injury frequently take days or even months to become apparent.
Getting medical help as quickly as possible after a slip and fall injury is crucial. If you’re unsure of your legal rights, contact us now, and our slip and fall experts will help you understand the process.
