Dental Trauma After a Slip and Fall Accident

After a slip and fall, we often think about broken bones, back and neck injuries, and head trauma. Dental trauma is also a common injury after someone takes a spill. When victims aren’t able to catch themselves with their hands, wrists, and knees, their face can hit the ground, sending them to the emergency room with injuries such as a broken jaw, chipped or cracked teeth, teeth that become dislodged, and injuries to the muscles and joints that hold the jaw in place.

These types of injuries often lead to emotional trauma and loss of income during recovery, not to mention long-term pain associated with difficulty eating, locking of the jaw, permanent disfigurement, and more.

What are the common facial and dental trauma injuries after a slip and fall? And what should you do if you are injured because of the negligence of someone else? Let’s take a look.

Dental Injuries After a Slip and Fall

While teeth and facial bones are relatively strong, they are susceptible to breaks and fractures during a slip and fall. Hard surfaces such as floors, furniture, stairs, and other objects can easily cause damage to the teeth and facial bones during impact.

Dental injuries can range from a minor chipped tooth to a fractured jaw, and while typically not life-threatening, can cause excruciating pain. Some of the most common dental injuries after a slip and fall include:

• Avulsed teeth: An avulsed tooth happens when a tooth completely dislodges from its socket. This is a dental emergency and requires immediate treatment.
• Fractured teeth: A fractured tooth, also called a chipped or cracked tooth, happens when the tooth splits. For a small fracture, a dentist can repair it with a filling during an office visit. For larger fractures, treatment may require a more lengthy – and costly – procedure.
• Tooth luxation: A tooth luxation happens when a slip and fall causes an injury to the tissues, ligaments, and bone that holds a tooth in place. Some tooth luxations are minor and do not require treatment. Severe cases may require the tooth to be repositioned and even a root canal.
• Broken jaw: A broken jaw is a common type of facial fracture and is considered a dental emergency. In cases where a victim is having trouble breathing or has a swollen tongue, they should go to the emergency room. In other cases, a dentist can treat the break. Because a broken jaw can affect the alignment of the teeth, victims should not wait to seek treatment.

Treatment for dental and mouth injuries varies depending on the severity and type of injury. Treatments can include cosmetic surgery, dental implants, corrective jaw surgery, root canals, bone grafting, and more. Dental bills can quickly add up, and victims may have to miss work for dental and doctor’s appointments. If you suffered a dental injury from a slip and fall, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. A personal injury attorney can help you recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Steps to Take After a Slip and Fall

If you are the victim of a slip and fall, it’s important to take several steps to not only take care of your health but also protect your rights in a personal injury case. The steps you take following your slip and fall can make all the difference in building your case.

Here are steps to take after a slip and fall accident that results in a dental trauma:

• Seek medical attention: Your first priority after a slip and fall is to get medical attention as soon as possible. Dental injuries that go untreated can result in serious pain and long-term consequences. Your dentist or doctor can develop a treatment plan to meet your needs. It’s also important to have your physician document your injury as a piece of evidence for your personal injury case.
• Report the accident: This step is crucial and is often skipped by victims. After seeking medical treatment, report the slip and fall to the property owner where the accident occurred. Ask the owner for a copy of the written report.
• Document the accident and your recovery: Were there witnesses to your slip and fall? Get the names and contact information of anyone who was there at the time of your accident. Take photos of the location where the accident occurred and include any trip and fall hazards in the photos. During your treatment and recovery, take notes at your appointments and document your pain levels. All of this information will be helpful in building your case.
• Do not talk to the insurance company: The insurance company of the property owner may try to get you to make a statement or take a settlement offer after your accident. The insurance company and property owner will want to settle the case quickly and may not offer you the compensation to cover all of the costs associated with the accident. Do not post any details of your accident on social media or talk to anyone before seeking legal advice from an attorney.
• Contact a personal injury lawyer: After an injury accident that was caused by the negligence of someone else, you should contact a personal injury attorney. An attorney can help you seek maximum compensation for your injuries and will fight for your rights after an accident.

Premises Liability in Slip and Fall Personal Injury Cases

Dental injury expenses can quickly add up. Emergency surgery, multiple dental visits, and continuing care can reach several thousands of dollars in expenses. Victims of dental trauma are often surprised at the costs, especially if they do not have dental insurance. In cases where victims do not have dental insurance, a premises liability case may be necessary to recover compensation for their losses.

A premises liability case occurs when an injury happens at someone else’s business or residence. Premises liability is a term that refers to a property owner’s responsibility to keep their property safe for visitors. Common premises liability cases result from wet floors, cracked sidewalks, snowy or icy walkways, poor lighting, open excavations, and more.

As part of the premises liability case, you will have to prove:

• The property owner maintained or controlled the property where the accident occurred
• The owner was negligent and failed to ensure the property was safe or failed to warn you of the slip and fall risk
• The owner’s negligence was the cause of your injuries
• You suffered real harm, which includes medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and even lost earning potential.

Premises liability cases can be complicated and require documentation and evidence to recover compensation. If you were injured in a slip and fall and suffered dental trauma, reach out to a personal injury law firm for a review of your case.

Dental Trauma Personal Injury Law Firm in Lancaster, Pa.

Georgelis, Larsen & Sabatino Injury Law Firm, P.C. helps dental trauma slip and fall accident victims receive the compensation they deserve. Our team of experienced, aggressive, and compassionate attorneys has more than 100 years of combined experience working with accident victims in Lancaster County and central Pennsylvania.

Personal injury and premises liability cases are complicated and can take hours of preparation, planning, and investigation. Our team can take that task on for you to help you recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Do not settle with the insurance company before consulting with our team.

We offer free case evaluations and do not charge a fee unless we win your case. We have recovered more than $90,000,000 for accident victims after a slip and fall, work accident, auto accident, motorcycle accident, and more. Contact us today for a free consultation either on our website or by calling 1-800-HURT-NOW.