The Injuries Sustained by Workers Who Fall off a Ladder
There are risks that come with working at heights, like on ladders, that can cause serious accidents. One of the most common mistakes at certain types of jobs is falling off a ladder. This can cause a lot of different injuries, some of which can last a long time. To make sure the right medical care and safety steps are taken, it is important to know what kinds of injuries were sustained.
Ladder accidents happen a lot in places where a lot of building and maintenance work is done. Ladder accident attorneys help workers who have been hurt secure fair compensation.
Common Injuries Caused by Falling Off a Ladder
The following are common injuries caused by falling off a ladder:
- Fractures and Broken Bones: People often suffer from broken bones when they fall off a ladder. The force of the fall often breaks workers’ wrists, arms, legs, or hips. When a bone breaks, it can be very painful and may need surgery followed by a lot of therapy. These injuries often require time off work and can make it very hard for a person to move around.
- Head Injuries and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): If a person falls off a ladder and hits their head first, they could seriously hurt their head. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI), concussions, and head fractures can happen even if you fall from a low position. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can cause memory loss, headaches, and, in the worst cases, lifelong disability. It is very important to see a doctor immediately because signs may not show up right away but can get worse over time.
- Spinal Cord and Back Injuries: When you fall off of a ladder, you can hurt your spinal cord very badly. You could get a herniated disc or even be paralyzed completely. How bad these injuries are often based on how high the person fell and how they hit the ground. If the worker’s spinal cord is hurt, they may lose feeling or function below the injury site, thereby affecting their quality of life.
- Neck Injuries: Another common injury from ladder falls is damage to the neck. Some of these accidents are whiplash, torn ligaments, and nerve damage. Headaches, stiffness in the neck, and extreme neck pain are common symptoms. In the worst cases, spinal cord damage in the neck area can leave the person unable to move or speak and require emergency medical care.
Internal Injuries and Organ Damage
Even though they are harder to see, internal injuries can be just as dangerous, if not more so. Organs like the liver, heart, or kidneys can be hurt by the force of a fall. These kinds of cuts might not be obvious at first, but they can cause internal bleeding, which is an emergency.
Severe abdominal pain, dizziness, and loss of consciousness, low blood pressure, and nausea are all signs of internal injuries that need immediate medical care.
Soft Tissue Injuries: Sprains and Strains
Sprains and strains can also happen when you fall off a ladder.
- Sprains: When tendons get overstretched or torn, usually in the ankle or wrist.
- Strains: Damages to muscles or tendons that can cause pain and difficulty for a long time.
A sprained ankle or wrist is a common injury that happens when a person hits the ground hard. The pain and swelling from these injuries can be very bad, and they may make it hard for a person to move. To heal properly, soft tissue injuries often need time off, physical treatment, and sometimes surgery.
Cuts, Bruises, and Lacerations
People who fall off ladders can also get cuts, bruises, and other cuts, especially if they hit something sharp or the ladder itself during the fall. Even though these injuries may not seem serious, they can get worse, like getting an infection, if they are not handled right away. Deep cuts may need stitches and leave scars that last a long time.
