If you are in a slip-and-fall accident, you’re bound to experience broken bones and other types of injuries. One type of injury that you may not realize can result from a slip-and-fall accident is the chance of developing blood clots.
When blood clots form, they have the potential to become deadly. Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are the two most severe types of blood clots that can arise from slip-and-fall accidents. RileyCate, LLC is a personal injury law firm that can assist you with seeking justice for injuries from a slip and fall accident. In this informative blog post, we discuss how slip and fall accidents can lead to blood clots in a blood vessel and how you can watch out for the symptoms.
Understanding What Blood Clots Are and Why They Are Dangerous
Blood clots are how your blood vessels repair themselves after they’ve endured an injury. While a blood clot is a natural process for your body and blood vessel repair, some issues can arise when blood clots become too large, the blood clot breaks loose, or they are left untreated.
Whether you have deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE), each of these types of blood clots is dangerous when ignored. Venous thromboembolism(VTE) may become life-threatening when it breaks free and blocks the blood flow running to or from your heart. Blood clots like this can cause a heart attack or a stroke.
Additionally, an embolus can move through your arteries. If it winds up in the lungs, it can cause other dangerous scenarios. Even if you have relatively minor injuries from a slip and fall, such as a twisted ankle, a blood clot could potentially form and pose a serious risk to your health. If you or a close family member has the signs of a blood clot, you must get to the emergency room immediately.
Can You Get a Blood Clot from a Slip and Fall Accident?
Since a slip and fall accident is most likely to affect your legs, your chance to develop blood clots is higher. This is due to the fact that these slip-and-fall accident injuries will restrict the movement of your legs as you recover.
Additionally, a slip and fall victim will be more likely to get a blood clot because of the types of injuries sustained in these incidents. Blunt force trauma, broken bones, and significant muscle injuries can cause blood around the injured area to become sticky, leading to a blood clot.
What makes this most alarming is that even a minor injury, such as a twisted ankle or muscle tears, could wind up with this life-threatening result. Given this increased risk, it is imperative that you seek medical treatment after a slip and fall and that you keep an eye on your recovery. If you know the signs of blood clots, you can take action and prevent these severe conditions from worsening.
Warning Signs of a Blood Clot in Blood Vessels
When it comes to DVTs, this type of blood clot is often complex to catch early. You may even suspect a Charley horse or shin splints. However, if you have recently endured a slip and fall, you should keep an eye out and let your doctor know if you experience these symptoms. It could save your life!
The symptoms of DVT include swelling of your injured arm or leg, warmth in the wounded area, discolored or red skin, visible veins, and pain or tenderness. As for PE, the blood clot will break loose and go to the lungs. These symptoms will include chest pain, difficulty breathing, coughing up blood, rapid heartbeat, and pain while breathing.
Blood clots can happen to anyone, especially after an injury from a slip and fall. Some people are more susceptible to developing a blood clot, regardless of injuries. However, a slip and fall is a common cause for how a blood clot forms, and you should pay attention to these warning signs for yourself or your injured loved ones.
Are You at Increased Risk for Developing Blood Clots?
A person who suffers a slip and fall is certainly at risk for developing a blood clot. It is also important to note that anyone who has certain conditions may have an even greater risk for blood clots.
These factors should put you on high alert for blood clot risk:
- Age
- Pregnancy
- Obesity
- Those who have health conditions such as cancer, a vein disease, or blood-clotting disorder
- You have a close family member with VTE
- Anyone who smokes cigarettes uses birth control pills or hormone replacement therapies
What Are the Treatment Options for Blood Clots After a Slip and Fall?
The treatment plan for most blood clots is blood thinners, though those won’t always guarantee freedom from blood clots. Your doctor may choose a different route, such as performing a thrombectomy. This surgical procedure removes the blood clot from your body.
Catheters may also be inserted to dissolve the blood clot. Another option is inserting stents into blood vessels. This wire mesh material can help keep the vessels open and prevent them from becoming clogged.
What Are Your Legal Options When Blood Clots Are Caused by Injuries Sustained Through Someone Else’s Negligence?
The injuries you endured from a slip and fall could put you in increased danger of a blood clot. Now that you know this, it is essential to understand that this could happen months after your injury.
Many victims of these types of accidents are often embarrassed and don’t know what to do. You may have slipped and fell at your local supermarket and shrugged it off. Any time you get hurt, especially when it is not your fault, you should get medical treatment. After that, you should always consult a personal injury attorney.
An attorney can help you review your legal options after this injury. When you have been treated for your injuries, it can more easily be linked to any clots that develop in the affected area. These injuries can be incredibly costly to treat, and if a clot arises from an injury that someone else caused you to suffer, you should be held responsible.
The medical bills, surgeries, loss of income, and other unexpected costs can have a profound impact on your life. Additionally, the emotional turmoil you experience from being thrust into this deadly situation can have lasting consequences. With the help of legal representation, you can hold this person or entity accountable for endangering you and remove the financial burden from your recovery.
The symptoms of a clot may not be apparent immediately. If you hurt your leg or another part of your body in a fall, it is important to be observant and notify your doctor if you notice anything unusual. Even if you think it’s nothing, it’s better to err on the side of caution and be vigilant when watching your condition.
If you need a personal injury lawyer, RileyCate, LLC, has the experience you need in negotiating cases for victims of slip and fall injuries. We fight hard for our clients to get them the money they deserve. Once you have fallen, get medical care immediately, and then contact our law firm to speak with a personal injury attorney who can advise you of the following steps to take.