Slip and fall accidents can be prevented at work by installing handrails on staircases, keeping floors clean and free of clutter, and warning employees about hazards on the premises. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), slip or trip and fall accidents are a leading cause of work injury-related emergency room visits. Many, if not all, of them could have been prevented. Property owners and managers should ensure that there is no clutter on the floor. They should also make sure employees know about hazards on the premises and address these hazards as soon as possible.
If you were a victim of a slip and fall accident at work, our doctors can help treat your injuries through chiropractic adjustments and physical therapy. We invite you to contact our team at Naples Community Injury Center to find out more about how we can help you recover. Call us today at (239) 631-5445 to set up an appointment with one of our physicians.
Common Slip and Fall Hazards at Work and How to Prevent Them
Many employees suffer slip and fall injuries due to hazards, like:
- Cluttered walkways
- Wet floors
- Uneven surfaces
- Broken tiles
- Loose floorboards or mats
- Torn carpeting
- Defective sidewalks
Employers or anyone who is in charge of the property can help prevent someone from sustaining an injury in a slip and fall by:
- De-cluttering all walkways
- Ensuring all surfaces are clean
- Requiring the employees to wear non-slip shoes
- Installing proper lighting
- Putting out proper warning signage
- Supplying step stools
- Constantly checking the premises for any defects
- Properly cleaning up spills
- Putting down non-skid rugs
Common Slip and Fall Accident Injuries
If you slipped and fell at work, you might have suffered one of these injuries:
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
If you hit your head when you fell, you might have a brain or head injury. According to Mayo Clinic, common symptoms associated with this injury include:
- Sensitivity to sound and/or light
- Blurred vision
- Slurred speech
- Mood swings
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Poor concentration or memory
- Loss of coordination
- Seizures
It’s important that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. If you delay, you may end up suffering long-lasting, possibly permanent, side effects.
Whiplash
When you hit the ground when you fell, your head could have forcibly snapped back and forth, like a crack of a whip. This injury, whiplash, is a soft tissue injury that sprains or strains the neck. Its symptoms usually involve:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Poor range of motion
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Tingling and numbness in shoulders and arms
- Ringing in the ears
- Poor concentration
Whiplash can usually heal on its own with home remedies. However, more severe cases may call for further intervention.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Per the CDC, falls can lead to broken bones, especially to the wrist, ankle, hip, and arm.
Back and Spinal Injuries
Your back and spine support your entire body, so any damage can cause a lot of pain. Many victims of falls can suffer from herniated or bulged discs, sciatica, and strains or sprains.
Treatments We Administer for Slip and Fall Injuries
When you visit Naples Community Injury Center, we want to hear your entire account of the slip and fall accident, your injuries, and how they have affected your life. From there, we can design a treatment plan that is catered to your unique goals and needs. We may use one or a combination of these approaches:
- Chiropractic adjustments: Our doctors may apply spinal manipulations to force your spine into realignment. This technique can take pressure off surrounding muscles and nerves, helping relieve pain.
- Physical therapy: We can teach you different strengthening exercises to improve your mobility and range of motion.
Not only can these methods help you heal from your current injuries, but they can also work to prevent further injury.
Let us know how you’re doing with your treatment plan. If you feel like you’re improving in a certain area, experiencing limitations, or hitting a wall, communicate that to us. We want to make sure you’re at ease through your recovery.
You May Qualify to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim After Your Slip and Fall Injury
If you slipped, fell, and injured yourself at work, you may qualify to file a workers’ compensation claim with your employer’s insurance company. It can cover a portion of your lost income and medical bills. However, you must be able to prove that your injuries were a direct result of your workplace slip and fall accident. That’s where our doctors can come in and assist you.
We can supply you with the medical documentation you need to recover the benefits you deserve. Some examples include:
- Results of diagnostic tests, including imaging scans
- A written record of all of your appointments at our office and what they involved
- A list of medication we prescribed you for pain, if any
- Our notes on how well you responded to treatment
- A timeline of your treatment plan
- A note to your employer excusing you from work
- Our expert testimony regarding your injuries
Sometimes, our patients want a lawyer to help assist them through the claims process, as it can be difficult to manage their case while receiving treatment. If you’re interested but you don’t know where to start, we can offer you advice on your next steps.
Getting Help After a Slip and Fall Accident at Work
If you were hurt in a slip and fall accident at work, our doctors can conduct a full examination and determine the right treatment approach to your situation. We can offer you a custom treatment plan so you can start feeling like yourself again.
Reach out to Naples Community Injury Center today at (239) 631-5445 to get started.
