People tend to be dismissive of same-level falls, such as when they slip on something. Unless the person who falls is an older adult, people are more likely to laugh than to be concerned.
The reality is that people can and do suffer major injuries even if they only fall from a standing height to the floor. In some cases, an individual could have significant injuries and not even realize it after they fall. How do people overlook injuries after falling?
The stress response hides symptoms
The human body has adapted to effectively respond to traumatic incidents. After a slip-and-fall, the person who loses their balance may feel a rush of energy instead of noticing symptoms.
They might only notice warning signs of injuries the day after they fall. People with stable fractures or soft tissue injuries may only develop symptoms hours after the incident or the following morning.
Sometimes, it takes time for symptoms to develop. If a person hits their head when they fall, they could develop a traumatic brain injury. However, the amount of inflammation and pressure necessary to cause noticeable symptoms could take multiple days to develop. Considering how easy it is to overlook serious slip-and-fall injuries, it’s wise to see a doctor afterward, especially if they hit their heads or lost consciousness.
If the incident was the result of unsafe property conditions, someone injured in a slip-and-fall may potentially have grounds for a premises liability lawsuit. Knowing how to respond after an incident in a public space could help people hold business owners accountable for failing to maintain safe facilities.