Public embarrassment in a slip and fall accident can influence the outcome in two ways as far as compensation is concerned. In one way, embarrassment can leave the victim wide open for losing a claim against the at-fault party. On the other hand, the specter of embarrassment may enhance the pain and suffering the person experiences. Let’s look at these two opposed aspects of a car accident claim.
Silliness in a Slip and Fall
Since the early days of cinematic history, tripping or slipping has been treated with a comedic undertone. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. However, the public’s perception of someone tripping over a box or slipping on a banana in a movie still brings about the guffaws.
When a slip and fall accident happens in real life, a person may do anything to dispel the notion and jump up and may even laugh at the circumstances or survey the area angrily. For some individuals, the amount of adrenaline released masks the pain and injury they suffered.
This is detrimental when the hours go by, and they begin to feel symptoms that evaded them in the beginning. If they can file a lawsuit against a negligent commercial establishment or a homeowner, their initial response may be a problem. Since slip and fall accidents lead to severe and sometimes fatal injuries that are costly for the individual or their family, this could be problematic.
Common Slip and Fall Accidents
Some of the most frequent slip and fall injuries are:
- Traumatic brain injuries, including concussion and subdural hematoma, are frequently seen. The latter usually requires surgical intervention.
- Paralysis: This results from a spinal cord injury.
- Fracture: The fractures frequently are in the upper and lower extremities and the hips.
- Dislocated shoulder: Depending on the type of fall, a person’s shoulder can be dislocated. When this occurs, a medical doctor must treat it properly.
- Ligament tears: How the person falls can lead to a joint ligament tear. One of the most common is a medial collateral tear in the knee. Surgery may be needed to repair the ligament.
- Muscle strains and sprains: While surgery is not usually necessary, pain may be a constant factor for weeks or months. Some individuals may be unable to work if their job is physically demanding.
Embarrassment as Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering in a legal claim are unpredictable and variable. Unlike economic damages such as loss of income and medical care, they cannot be easily verified. Pain and suffering involve components such as anxiety due to the accident, fear, insomnia, humiliation and embarrassment and post-traumatic stress syndrome. These factors can make it nearly impossible for a person to function as they did before the accident, both mentally and emotionally. Yet, in some cases, they are hard to prove.
How Much Is a Pain and Suffering Claim Worth in this?
Of course, this depends on the nature of the accident and the types of injuries that occur. Physical pain and suffering after the incident may persist for months or be permanent. For example, traumatic injury to the brain or chronic headaches and the inability to mentally address problems can interfere with work and may result in permanent disability. Imagine the effect this has on someone successful in their line of work.
Emotional Ramifications of a Slip and Fall Injury
Embarrassment over the accident may result in chronic loss of self-respect, even though the fall was caused by a negligent individual. This alone can affect the individual’s demeanor and may make them feel inadequate in other aspects of their life.
In addition, embarrassment can require psychological treatment to reverse this detrimental situation. The cost of treatment should be compensated by the at-fault party as well as other losses the person incurs.
Also read: Basics of Successfully Filing a Car Accident Injury Claim
