Fractures, or broken bones, can be very serious injuries. They sometimes require surgery and physical therapy. Even if intensive treatment isn’t necessary, injured people may miss weeks of work. A broken bone could prevent them from performing job functions if their employers cannot offer alternate responsibilities.
Most fractures are obvious either because the affected body part looks distorted or because of the pain the injury creates. Same-level falls, including slip-and-falls at retail establishments or restaurants, can easily break human bones. Some people don’t notice their injuries initially and may leave without reporting what happened.
How could a person with a fracture from a fall possibly overlook the warning signs of their injuries?
The bone may remain in place
A fracture can leave the bone aligned, which may leave the injured person thinking they haven’t hurt themselves. Stable and hairline fractures are possible in a same-level fall scenario, and the person who fell may not notice their injury until they try to lift something heavy or get struck by a falling object at work weeks later.
The body hides symptoms
When someone falls abruptly, they may experience a rush of adrenaline and other chemicals because they panic. In scenarios that trigger the human stress response, also known as the fight or flight response, the body can cover pain symptoms to help people flee a dangerous situation. It may be hours later before the pain from the broken bone becomes too much to ignore.
Especially if there is a delay in diagnosis, internal records can be critical for those with serious injuries following a slip-and-fall at a business who may need to seek accountability from that business later. Reporting a slip-and-fall when it happens can help people prove that they got hurt due to unsafe property conditions.
