Heights make many of us uncomfortable for good reasons. Falling from even a few feet has the potential to result in serious injuries, and falls from several stories up can cause catastrophic results. In many cases, people who fall from open stairwells, ladders, balconies, scaffolding, or other high places sustain extremely serious injuries that profoundly damage them for the rest of their lives. Fortunately, in many cases, victims can recover compensation for their fall-related losses, including their medical expenses, lost income, lost quality of life, and physical and emotional pain and suffering.
Common Fall-Related Injuries
A fall from a high place can result in an impact of tremendous force—and the longer the fall, the harder the impact with the ground. A fall can badly damage the human body, and many people sustain injuries that leave them with long-term disabilities. Common injuries that people sustain in serious falls include:
Traumatic brain injuries – After fall results in a blow to the head, a serious brain injury can cause permanent problems with cognition, speech, movement, or emotional stability.
Internal injuries – Falls often result in serious internal injuries, including life-threatening damage to organs.
Broken bones – The forces involved in falls from heights can easily break bones. In some cases, broken bones can result in permanent disfigurement, scars, or mobility issues.
Spinal cord injuries – Spinal cord injuries commonly result from falls from significant heights. Spinal cord injuries can leave victims with numbness, muscle weakness, lost range of motion, or even paralysis below the site of the injury.
Negligence Can Cause Falls From Heights
In most cases, victims can take legal action for falls that result from someone else’s negligence. Defective design or manufacture, or a property owner’s failure to keep a property in a reasonably safe condition, may constitute negligence that can cause accidents. Fall hazards that would likely result from negligence include:
- Broken railings on balconies or stairwells
- Unfinished construction
- Unsafe scaffolding
- Defective ladders
- Dangerous stairs
- Defective harnesses or safety equipment
- Unstable structures
The untrained eye cannot always see when negligence caused a particular accident. Consequently, anyone hurt in a fall should review the case with an attorney.
Call the Florida Law Group Today to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation
When falls result from an unreasonably dangerous condition on someone else’s property, Florida law generally entitles victims to compensation. For this reason, if you sustained a serious injury in a fall, review your case with an experienced lawyer as soon as you can. To schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys, call the Florida Law Group today at (813) 463-8880 or send us an email through our online contact form.
