Hip injuries are among the most common injuries sustained in a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accidents
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a broken hip is “one of the most serious fall-related injuries” and a recovery from a hip fracture that occurs due to the fall is difficult for the victim – particularly if they are seniors. Each year, more than 300,000 older people (those 65 years and older) are hospitalized for hip fractures. More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling, usually by falling sideways. The chances of breaking your hip increase as you get older.
The type of medical care you will need after a fall-related hip injury depends of the type of injury and severity of the damage to your hip. Here are some of the most common types of hip injuries suffered in a fall and the types of treatments that may be required in such cases.
Dislocation: A hip dislocation is when the thighbone gets dislodged from the hip socket either forward or backward. This type of injury is very common in slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accidents. The injury itself is extremely painful and is fixed by manually putting the thighbone back into place.
The immediate symptom of a hip dislocation is pain. The patient would be unable to move his or her leg. If the injury results in nerve damage, you may also not have any feeling in the foot or ankle area. Hip dislocations typically take two to three months to heal completely. Physical therapy is usually recommended during recovery to help speed up the process.
Strains and sprains: A hip strain occurs when one of the muscles supporting the hip joint is stretched beyond its limit or torn. This may happen when a person falls. Strains may range from mild or moderate to severe depending on the extent of the injury. A severe strain can limit your ability to move your hip. Strains and sprains may require physical therapy or other medical treatment.
Serious tears and fractures: Often these types of injuries will require surgery to repair the damage and stabilize the affected parts of the hip. In some cases, individuals may need a complete hip replacement.
In cases where patients need surgery, they will need to be hospitalized and undergo rehabilitation after the surgery. They may need to continue with physical therapy at a rehab center or at home. This may be a lengthy but necessary process, which will help patients regain strength and movement. Many may be unable to walk or walk normally for an extended period of time. Many who suffer hip injuries are also unable to return to work until they fully recover. In some cases, even with surgery and therapy, individuals may end up suffering permanent damage and experience lifelong pain. Individuals may need wheelchairs, walkers, canes and other equipment to get around as well as medication, which may all prove costly.
Slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accidents have the potential to result in life-changing injuries and long-term medical expenses that may not be covered by health insurance policies. If you were injured in a slip-and-fall or a trip-and-fall accident as a result of someone else’s negligence (carelessness), please remember that you have rights. Some of the damages that victims of such accidents can claim include, but are not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, cost of hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, past and future pain and suffering, permanent injury, etc.
The experienced New York personal injury attorneys with the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. For over 49 years, our skilled attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims.
Our law firm recovered $1,700,000 for a woman who slipped and fell and received no hospital or medical treatment for one month after the accident. Our law firm also recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
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