Slipping and falling on the property of a business or that of another homeowner is not a matter to take lightly.
Thankfully, most of the time, a Montana resident who falls in public escapes with some embarrassment and perhaps a few cuts and bruises. Too often, though, slips and falls lead to very serious injuries. This is true even when a fall is from level ground. Of course, a fall from a height, a tumble down the stairs or a similar circumstance makes the likelihood of a severe injury higher.
Next to motor vehicle accidents, falling is the most common cause of spinal cord injuries. Among people who are over 65, falling is the most common cause of spinal cord injuries, causing even more such injuries than accidents on the road.
Likewise, falls also too frequently cause significant head trauma, which in turn can cause long-term brain damage.
Both traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries can require hundreds of thousands of dollars for treatment. They also can leave a victim unable to find work in her profession of choice.
Other types of slip-and-fall injuries can be a huge burden on the victim
Other types of injuries from a fall can also be extremely costly in terms of financial loss, pain and distress.
For example, many people may break a hip, ankle, or other bone in a fall. Soft-tissue injuries to the back or other area of the body are also common.
Although perhaps a Missoula resident will eventually be able to resume his normal life after such an injury, he still will have considerable medical and rehabilitation expenses. He also may be in pain for weeks or even months and need time to recover from the fall.
No matter the type of injury, property owners who are legally responsible for a fall should pay full compensation to the victim.
