A traumatic brain injury is a serious trauma that has the potential to affect someone for a lifetime. Not only can a TBI cause catastrophic damage to the brain, but it can also be fatal.
The risk of a slip and fall injury resulting in a TBI is higher for those who are 65 and older.
Consequences of a TBI
According to the Centers for Disease Control website, the effects of a TBI may include the following:
- Personality and mood changes
- Loss of memory
- Inability to process thoughts normally
- Difficulty moving properly
- Vision or hearing impairments
These symptoms may last just a few days, or for the rest of the injured person’s life.
Adults over age 65 are particularly vulnerable to the effects of TBIs. In fact, TBIs are more likely to end in death for elderly people who suffer a slip and fall than for younger adults or children.
Responsibilities of property owners
Business and property owners are responsible for keeping their surroundings safe to prevent slips and falls. FindLaw notes some dangerous conditions that contribute to these accidents including slick surfaces, debris, dim lighting and loose flooring.
If someone sustains a TBI while traversing someone else’s property, the owner may be liable if they knew conditions were not safe. For example, if a homeowner does not clear snow and ice from their driveway or sidewalk, a delivery carrier may slip and hurt themselves. That delivery carrier may hold the homeowner liable for his or her injuries because they did not take reasonable steps to ensure that the safety of their property.
Because dangerous conditions often result in catastrophic injuries to the brain, slip and fall accidents commonly end in litigation.