Slip-and-fall accident victims in Alabama often suffer debilitating and painful ankle injuries. The ankle is a complex junction of three bones covered by a membrane. This membrane is lined with soft tissue called synovium and filled with fluid that allows the joint to cope with the everyday stresses of walking. Slip-and-fall accidents can damage this membrane, break some or all of the ankle bones, and rupture or tear the many tendons and ligaments that hold the joint together.
Strains and sprains
Strains and sprains are the most common types of ankle injuries. No bones are broken when an ankle is sprained, but ligaments in the joint are stretched, torn or damaged. Ankle sprains are often viewed as minor injuries, but they can be extremely painful and often take many months to heal.
Fractures
Ankle fractures can be extremely challenging to medical professionals because of the joint’s complexity. Treatment may include costly surgery and months of physical therapy. In severe cases, a slip-and-fall accident victim who sustains a fractured ankle may be left physically impaired for life. Ankle strains, sprains and fractures often occur when individuals trip on an uneven surface and roll an ankle or place undue stress on the joint as they try to arrest a fall.
Premises liability lawsuits
Individuals who are injured in slip-and-fall accidents often take legal action by suing negligent property owners. When pursuing premises liability lawsuits on behalf of accident victims, personal injury attorneys may seek to establish that the defendant knew about, or should have known about, a dangerous condition but failed to take adequate measures to protect visitors from harm. Attorneys could then argue that the defendant’s reckless behavior was the direct cause of their client’s injury, loss or damages. Damages in these cases may be awarded to compensate the plaintiff for lost income, hospital bills, and pain and suffering.
