What to Do If You’ve Broken Your Hip in a Slip and Fall Accident in Port St. Lucie

What to Do If You've Broken Your Hip in a Slip and Fall Accident in Port St. Lucie

Slipping and falling is no laughing matter-especially if you break your hip. A broken hip can be a debilitating injury that significantly affects your mobility and drastically changes your life.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five falls causes serious injuries, such as broken bones. Over 800,000 patients are hospitalized yearly because of a fall injury, often a head injury or hip fracture.

Each year, at least 300,000 older people are hospitalized for hip fractures. More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling, usually sideways, and the chances of fracturing your hip increase as you age.

If you have broken your hip as a result of a slip and fall accident in Port St. Lucie, what do you do? This is not a question that most people think about until they are faced with it. However, if you find yourself in this position, it is important to seek legal assistance right away. Our skilled Port St. Lucie slip and fall lawyers can help guide you through the process and work to get you the compensation that you deserve. Read on to learn more.

Causes of a Hip Injury in a Slip and Fall

There are many causes of a hip injury in a slip and fall. But some of the most common include:

  • Wet or icy surfaces
  • Uneven sidewalks or flooring
  • Holes or cracks in the sidewalk or flooring
  • Loose carpeting or floorboards
  • Cluttered floors
  • Poor lighting

These are just some of the most common causes of a hip injury in a slip and fall. If you’ve been injured in a fall, talk to a personal injury lawyer to see if you have a case.

Looking for Signs It May Be a Broken Hip

Broken hips are serious injuries that require immediate medical attention. Some signs that you may have a broken hip include:

Intense Pain in Your Hip or Groin

Intense pain in your hip or groin is one sign you may have broken your hip after slipping and falling. If you suspect you have a break, seek medical attention immediately.

Although some breaks can heal on their own, others may require surgery. A broken hip can be extremely painful and challenging to move around. If the break is severe, it may cause the hip joint to become dislocated. This can lead to further complications, such as nerve damage.

If you think you may have broken your hip, don’t hesitate to see a doctor for an evaluation.

Inability to Get Up After Falling

If you fall and cannot get up, you may have broken your hip. This is especially true if the fall was onto a hard surface. If you can’t get up, try to crawl to a safe place where someone can help you. Once you’re in a safe place, call 911 or your local emergency number. Don’t try to walk or move on your own, as this can worsen the injury.

The Leg on the Injured Side May Appear Shorter

If you’ve taken a spill and think you may have broken your hip, another tell-tale sign that can help you confirm your suspicions: your leg on the injured side may appear shorter.

This happens because when the hip is dislocated or broken, it loses its natural alignment with the rest of the body. As a result, the leg on the injured side appears shorter than the other leg.

If you suspect you have a broken hip, seek medical attention immediately. Once you’ve been diagnosed, you may want to speak with a Port St. Lucie slip and fall lawyer who can help you explore your legal options.

Whether you were injured in a slip and fall accident or some other type of accident, an experienced attorney will fight for the compensation you deserve.

Unable to Put Weight on the Injured Leg

If you’ve broken your hip in a slip and fall, you likely won’t be able to put any weight on the injured leg. This is because the hip joint cannot support any weight when dislocated or broken. You’ll likely feel intense pain if you try to put weight on the leg.

Other signs include:

  • Swollen or discolored skin around your hip
  • Numbness or tingling in your leg
  • Inability to move your leg or hip
  • A grinding sensation when you try to move your hip

Related Article: Understanding The Florida Personal Injury Process

Types of Hip Injury After a Slip and Fall

Several different types of hip injuries can occur after slipping and falling. Some of the most common include:

Fractures: A fracture is a break in the bone. There are several different types of fractures, including:

  • Stable fractures: In a stable fracture, the bone is broken but still in alignment. This fracture typically doesn’t require surgery and can heal independently with casts or splints.
  • Open fractures: An open fracture is a break in the bone that causes the bone to protrude through the skin. This type of fracture is severe and requires immediate medical attention.
  • Comminuted fractures: A comminuted fracture is a break in the bone that results in the bone being shattered into multiple pieces. This type of fracture is severe and requires immediate medical attention.

Dislocations: A dislocation is when the bone pops out of the joint. This can be extremely painful and may require surgery to fix.

Sprains and strains: Sprains and strains are common injuries when the ligaments or muscles around the hip are stretched or torn. These injuries can be painful but usually don’t require surgery to heal.

Related Article: Is The Store At Fault For My Slip And Fall Injury?

How a Hip Injury Can Affect Work and Daily Activities

A hip injury can significantly impact your ability to work and perform daily activities. This is because the hip joint is responsible for a large portion of the body’s movement. Injuries can cause pain and mobility issues, making walking, sitting, standing, or even sleeping difficult.

Depending on the severity of the injury, you may need to take some time off work to recover.

You may even require surgery sometimes, which can mean an extended period away from work. An injury to the hip can also make it hard to do things like shopping, cooking, and cleaning.

If you’ve suffered a hip injury in a slip-and-fall accident, speak with an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you get the compensation you deserve for your losses.

An attorney can help you prove your injuries were caused by the negligence of another party and can fight to get you the maximum amount of damages possible.

Steps to Take After a Slip and Fall Accident in Port St. Lucie

Stay Calm

If you’ve broken your hip in a slip and fall, the first step is to stay calm. This can be difficult, as falling and breaking a bone is incredibly painful.

The best thing you can do is take a few deep breaths and try to focus on something else. Once you’re feeling calmer, it’s time to assess the situation. If you can’t stand up or move, then you’ll need to call for help.

If you can get up, start slowly moving your legs and feet. This helps increase circulation and reduce swelling. Once you’re moving around, stay as still as possible so you don’t aggravate your injury.

In either case, once you’ve taken care of yourself, it’s time to contact a doctor or orthopedic specialist to get treatment for your broken hip.

Get Medical Treatment

Depending on the severity of the break, you may need surgery to correct it. In either case, you’ll likely need to stay in the hospital for a few days so that your doctors can monitor your progress and ensure you’re healing properly.

Once you’re discharged from the hospital, you’ll need to start working on physical therapy. This will help you regain your strength and mobility.

Depending on the extent of your injury, it may take months or even years to recover fully. But with the proper treatment and care, you can make a full recovery and get back to living your life.

Talk to a Port St Lucie Slip and Fall Lawyer

If you broke your hip in a slip and fall caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover damages. This is especially true if the fall happened at a business or public place.

In these cases, the property owner may be liable for your injuries. If you’re considering a personal injury lawsuit, talk to a lawyer specializing in these cases.

They can help you understand the process and determine if you have a case. Our Port St Lucie slip and fall lawyer will help you recover damages for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Related Article: What Is Premise Liability In Florida

Get in Touch with a Port St Lucie Slip and Fall Attorney Today

If you or someone you love has been injured in a slip-and-fall accident in Port St. Lucie, don’t wait to get help. The sooner you speak with an experienced slip and fall attorney, the better. Fetterman Law has a team of experienced and knowledgeable attorneys ready to assist you with your case.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. We’ll review the facts of your case and help you understand your legal options so that you can make the best decision for yourself and your family.