Every year, over a million Americans suffer from slip and fall injuries, 17,000 of which are fatal. Even seemingly minor slip and fall accidents can result in incredibly serious and debilitating injuries, including hip injuries.

The hip joint is a ball-and-socket, weight-bearing joint formed by the femur and the pelvis. This joint takes on a great deal of pressure and stress from daily activities, including walking. Suffering from a hip injury can be extremely challenging, as it can limit a person’s mobility and ability to perform day-to-day tasks.

Here are some signs that you may be suffering from a hip injury after a slip and fall accident, and we’ll also dive into the different types of hip injuries and what you should do if you’ve suffered from this serious affliction.

Types of Hip Injuries

If you’ve experienced a slip and fall accident, you may have sustained one of the many different types of hip injuries, including:

• Fractures: Fractures of the hip can occur due to a fall and are more common in older adults with osteoporosis. These fractures may occur in the femur, pelvic bone, or hip socket.

• Dislocations: Dislocations occur when the ball of the femur is forced out of the hip socket. This can occur due to trauma, such as the impact of a fall.

• Strains and Sprains: Strains and sprains can occur in the muscles, tendons, or ligaments of the hip joint. These injuries can be caused by sudden twisting motions.

• Bursitis: Bursitis occurs when the small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion the hip joint become inflamed. This can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in the hip area.

• Tendinitis: Tendinitis occurs when the tendons that attach muscles to bones become inflamed. This can cause pain, swelling, and limited mobility in the hip joint.

• Avascular Necrosis: This is a condition in which the bone tissue in the hip joint dies due to a lack of blood supply, which can result in pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. A slip and fall accident can damage the blood vessels near your hip, contributing to this condition.

• Labral Tears: Labral tears occur when the cartilage that lines the hip socket is torn or damaged. This can cause pain, stiffness, and instability in the hip joint.

• Snapping Hip Syndrome: Snapping hip syndrome is a condition in which victims suffer from a snapping or popping sensation in the hip joint.

Any one of these injuries may require you to undergo expensive medical treatments, which could include ongoing care, prescriptions, therapy, and surgeries. 

Signs of Slip and Fall Hip Injury

Hip injury symptoms can vary depending on the type and severity of the injury. Here are some common hip injury symptoms to watch out for:

• Pain: Hip pain is a common symptom of many types of hip injuries, including fractures, dislocations, strains, and sprains. The pain may be sharp, dull, or aching, and may be felt in or around the hip joint.

• Swelling: Swelling in the hip area can be indicative of a variety of hip injuries, including fractures, dislocations, strains, and bursitis. The swelling may be mild or severe and be accompanied by bruising or redness.

• Stiffness: Many types of hip injuries can cause stiffness, including arthritis, strains, and sprains. Hip stiffness can make it difficult to move the hip joint or perform daily activities.

• Reduced Mobility: Hip fractures, dislocations, strains, and sprains can result in victims having reduced mobility in the hip joint, making it difficult to walk, run, or perform other activities.

• Clicking or Popping Sounds: Clicking or popping sounds in the hip joint may occur due to snapping hip syndrome or other hip conditions and may also be accompanied by pain, stiffness, or reduced mobility.

• Numbness or Tingling: Numbness or tingling in the hip area may occur due to nerve compression or other injuries.

• Muscle Weakness: Muscle weakness in the hip area can occur due to a variety of hip injuries, including fractures, dislocations, strains, and sprains, making it challenging to perform daily activities or exercise.

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention. A seemingly minor hip injury can eventually worsen, leading to more expensive medical treatments and longer recovery times.

What Should I Do After a Slip and Fall Hip Injury?

Your slip and fall hip injury could be incredibly costly, and you may struggle to work while you recover. Sadly, some who suffer from serious hip injuries may struggle with permanent limited mobility, potentially impacting their ability to work. Additionally, a hip injury may take a toll on your emotional and mental state, as it can keep you from enjoying your hobbies and daily activities. 

Fortunately, if you’ve suffered from a slip and fall injury that was another party’s fault, you can file an insurance claim or lawsuit to recover damages. Depending on your case, you may be able to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, loss of future earnings, pain and suffering, and more. To recover compensation, you’ll need to prove that the negligent party was at fault for your accident and that you suffered damages as a direct result.

In Indiana, property owners have a responsibility to keep members of the public safe from any hazards. If they don’t fix the hazard, they must inform those on their property to keep them safe.

After suffering from an injury, you can prove that the property owner was responsible by collecting evidence, such as eyewitness testimonies and photographic and video evidence.

You can then prove that you suffered from damages. This can be achieved by providing your medical records, expert medical testimony, testimony from friends, family, and co-workers corroborating that the injury has limited your mobility and impacted your quality of life, and records indicating that you had to miss work due to your injuries.

Find the Best Personal Injury Lawyer for Slip and Fall Injuries

If you’ve suffered from a fall on someone else’s property, you need to contact a slip and fall lawyer as soon as possible. An experienced attorney can help you prove your case and maximize the amount of compensation you can recover.

For expert legal support after a slip and fall injury, contact the lawyers at Poynter & Bucheri Accident Recovery Attorneys at Law. We’ll work tirelessly to get you the money you deserve for your hip injury. Call us today at 1-800-265-9881, or you can schedule a FREE case review here.