Slip and fall accidents can lead to many different types of expensive and painful injuries. Tragically, these accidents can even cause permanent disabilities and can be fatal. One type of injury many people sustain are dislocated joints after a slip and fall accident. These injuries range in their overall severity, but they are often excruciatingly painful and always require medical attention. 

If you suffer from a joint dislocation after a slip and fall accident, you need to hold the liable party accountable. The medical treatment for a dislocated joint can be incredibly costly, and you may have to miss work due to your injury. You shouldn’t have to pay out of pocket for a slip and fall accident that wasn’t your fault — you need slip and fall accident lawyers at your side to help you recover the money you deserve for your injuries. 

What Joints Can Become Dislocated After a Slip and Fall?

A joint is an area of cartilage where two bones meet. Although we typically associate joints with our hinge joints — the knee, finger, elbow, and toe joints — and our ball-and-socket joints — the shoulder and hip joints, our bodies are made up of 360 joints. 

When a joint becomes dislocated, the two bones that the joint connected separate, resulting in pain and limited mobility. After experiencing a slip and fall, you could suffer from any number of joint dislocations across your body, but some are more common than others. 

The most common joint dislocations are:

• Shoulders (the most common dislocation for adults)
• Elbows (the most common dislocation for children)
• Knees
• Fingers
• Hips
• Ankles
• Jaw

Additionally, those who suffer from slip and fall accidents could experience either a partial dislocation, called a subluxation, or a full dislocation, which is more serious. 

How Do I Know If I Dislocated a Joint?

If you suffer from a joint dislocation injury after a slip and fall accident, you’ll likely begin to display symptoms shortly after. These symptoms can include:

• Severe pain in the joint, especially when moving the afflicted area 
• Limited mobility in the affected joint
• Swelling or bruising
• Numbness or tingling
• Visible deformity or discoloration

What Should I Do If I Dislocate a Joint? 

Even if you think that you experienced only minor injuries after a slip and fall accident, you need to seek immediate medical attention. This is incredibly important because if there’s a delay between your accident and seeking medical attention, you’ll have a harder time proving that your slip and fall accident caused your injuries. Your injury could be far worse than you suspect, so you need to get checked by a doctor.

If you believe that you or a loved one have suffered from a joint dislocation, take the following actions:

• Call 911: Joint dislocations are medical emergencies, so you should call emergency services. 

• Check the injured person’s breathing: If you were not the slip and fall victim, make sure to check on the injured person’s breathing and perform CPR if necessary. 

• Don’t move if certain areas of the body appear injured: If you or the victim experience pain in the back, leg, or head, you or the injured individual need to avoid movement, which could make the injury worse.

• Prevent infections: If the injury breaks the skin, you need to take immediate action to prevent the wound from becoming infected. You can rinse the injury with water and gently remove any dirt, debris, or other potentially harmful materials that could lead to infection. Avoid scrubbing the wound, and apply a sterile dressing if one is available.

• Immobilize the wound: Avoid moving the joint.

• Apply ice: Ice alleviates pain and swelling. 

Premises Liability and Recovering Compensation

If you suffer from a slip and fall injury on another party’s property, you may be able to recover compensation through premises liability. Premises liability is a legal concept referring to when a property contains something defective or unsafe, resulting in an injury. 

Slip and falls are a common type of premises liability, and some of the ways a property owner may be liable for someone slipping and falling include:

• Icy pavements and sidewalks 
• Uneven and cracked flooring and sidewalks
• Bad lighting leading to the accident
• Loose wires and cables
• Obstructed walkways
• Loose flooring or carpet
• Inadequate signage for wet floors or other hazards

If you suffer from a slip and fall accident caused by another party’s negligence, you may be able to recover compensation for damages. This can include money for medical bills, lost wages, loss of future earnings, pain and suffering, and more. 

Contact an Indianapolis Slip and Fall Injury Attorney

In order to recover compensation for your injuries, you need to be able to prove that another party was liable. To prove your claim, you need evidence that the person or business you filed against caused your slip and fall accident and that the accident directly caused you to suffer injuries. 

If you’re considering filing a claim, you need slip and fall lawyers to help you with your case. A seasoned legal team will help you by gathering evidence and presenting it effectively to prove your claim.

Need slip and fall legal assistance in Indianapolis? Contact Poynter & Bucheri Accident Recovery Attorneys at Law at 1-800-265-9881, or click here for a FREE case review.