Ankle Injuries from Slip and Fall Incidents

Slip and fall accidents are a very common workplace injury, as a personal injury lawyer  trusts can attest. In the United States, over 24,000 individuals injure their ankle every day. According to the AAOS (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons), sprains and fractures are the most reported slip and fall injuries. If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident and believe the negligence of another individual is what caused it, you may want to file a lawsuit in order to pay for any damages incurred. You should begin to document the situation immediately, as well as go to a doctor to receive medical attention. It is sometimes difficult to prove that a slip and fall caused an injury unless there were cameras or witnesses there. Be sure to document the scene by taking pictures, videos, and writing down any recollection of the incident as soon as you can. Making note of where you were when the accident occurred, what time it was and who was there. Sign and date your testimony, and if there are witnesses around have them do the same. Also, retrieving their contact information will benefit you if you ever need to go to court.

Symptoms of an Ankle Injury

Symptoms of an ankle injury include bruising around the ankle or foot, an increasingly difficult inability to put any weight on your foot or walk, any swelling or redness near the ankle or alongside the leg, and sharp pain when you walk. Ankle sprain, fracture and strain are the three most common types of ankle injuries. Ankle fracture occurs when there is a partial or complete break of one of three ankle bones. The talus, fibula and tibia are all joined at the ankle, so when one or all of these bones are broken, it can cause pain and inability to walk properly. Avulsion injuries tend to be milder and able to heal quickly if given medical attention. However, shattering breaks can result in serious injury that can lead to permanent damage if left untreated. Ankle strain is defined as damage of muscles and tendons of the ankle. It occurs after a muscle or tendon is stretched or torn within the ankle. This type of ankle strain is rare, but can occur.

Ankle sprain is the straining of ligaments present in your ankle. This can occur when you twist your ankle, and there are three different grades of sprain that can result from an accident. Grade one sprain occurs when ligaments have been stretched out but not torn and are very mild. It will only take one week to a month for grade one ankle sprains to heal. Grade two sprains occur when ligaments have been torn partially and are moderate. These can take two to three months to heal. Grade three sprains occur when the ligament is completely torn, and are considered to be the most serious sprain. It will take three to seven months for a grade three sprain to heal, and even then a full recovery is not to be expected.