Slip and Fall Sprains
Sprains are consistently one of the most common injuries suffered in slip and fall accidents. In fact, they account for over 40 % of all work injuries, many of which are the result of a fall. Those who are unfamiliar with sprain injuries or who have not experienced one may be quick to dismiss them as minor simply due to the frequency with which they occur, but this is a real misperception. They are often very painful and can seriously hinder one’s ability to meet the physical requirements of their job, forcing them to miss work time and possibly even making them permanently unable to perform their work duties.
If you have fallen in a store, residence, or other location due to trip hazards or slippery surfaces, contact the Harrisburg slip and fall sprain lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., at 610-667-7511.
Description and Degrees of a Sprain
Although nearly everyone has heard of sprains, few people understand the physical damage associated with one. Sprains occur when ligaments are overextended or subjected to excessive force. Ligaments are the bands of strong, fibrous tissue that connect bones to each other, and when they become injured and inflamed, any motion that uses that part of the body becomes problematic and painful. Physicians classify sprain injuries as being one of five types, depending on their severity:
- First degree sprain – involves negligible stretching or tearing
- Second degree – more thorough tearing, often causing notable pain
- Third degree – severe pain and immobilization of the affected joint
- Fourth degree – broken ligaments and bones, necessitates an operation
- Fifth degree – every ligament of a joint is broken, surrounding bones are broken, and amputation may be required
Contact Us
You may be entitled to financial compensation if you have suffered a sprain when you fell on another’s property. Contact the Harrisburg slip and fall sprain lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., at 610-667-7511 to learn more about your legal rights.