An ankle injury after a slip and fall can be far more serious than it initially appears. Insurance adjusters may describe a sprain as a minor injury that should resolve with rest, but an injured ankle can often involve torn ligaments, small fractures, cartilage damage, chronic instability, or other issues. This can often affect a person’s ability to walk, work, and do other tasks for months or even years after an accident.
For someone injured because of a dangerous condition on another person’s property, the consequences of an ankle injury can extend well beyond the initial emergency room visit. After a fall, you may need extensive, expensive medical treatment. You may also deal with lost wages, reduced mobility, and other issues that add another layer of financial strain.
At Appel Law Firm, we understand that a slip-and-fall injury should be evaluated based on the actual medical and financial consequences to an accident victim, not just the way that the injury looks shortly after the accident. If you have suffered an ankle injury because of a hazardous property condition in Walnut Creek or the greater Bay Area, our personal injury attorneys can help investigate what happened and pursue the compensation that you deserve. Reach out to our law offices today to schedule a free initial consultation with a Walnut Creek premises liability lawyer.
Why Ankle Injuries From Falls Should Not Be Dismissed
The ankle absorbs substantial force when a person slips, twists, or lands awkwardly. The mechanics of the injury can vary depending on whether the foot is planted, whether the ankle rolls inward or outward, and how quickly the person’s body moves after losing balance.
A person may walk away from a fall believing that they have only suffered a minor sprain. Swelling and pain can sometimes be attributed to a temporary injury. In other cases, however, the underlying damage may not be immediately obvious.
Some ankle injuries become more apparent over the days and weeks following a fall. Persistent swelling, instability, limited range of motion, pain while bearing weight, or difficulty walking can all be signs that an ankle injury is more significant than you may have initially believed.
That is one reason why it is so important to seek medical attention after a slip and fall. The right diagnosis can help you get the best treatment to increase the likelihood of a full recovery. Medical records can also provide important proof about the nature and progression of an injury if you file a personal injury claim against the property owner.
Common Ankle Injuries After a Slip and Fall
Not every ankle injury is the same. The diagnosis will determine the right treatment, recovery time, and a person’s future medical needs. It will also impact the value of a personal injury claim.
Some of the more common diagnoses that accident victims receive after a slip and fall include:
- Ankle Sprains: An ankle sprain occurs when ligaments supporting the joint are stretched or torn. Sprains are commonly associated with a rolling or twisting motion of the ankle. A mild sprain may improve relatively quickly, but more serious sprains can involve partial or complete ligament tears. Severe sprains can cause prolonged pain, swelling, weakness, and instability. Repeated ankle instability can also make a person more vulnerable to additional injuries. Someone who has suffered a significant ankle sprain may continue experiencing symptoms long after the initial bruising and swelling disappear.
- Ankle Fractures: A fall can cause a fracture even when there is no obvious deformity. Small or nondisplaced fractures may initially resemble a severe sprain, particularly when the primary symptoms are swelling and difficulty bearing weight. Depending on the location and severity of the fracture, treatment could involve immobilization, crutches, a walking boot, follow-up imaging, or surgery. A fracture can also substantially increase the amount of time an injured person is unable to perform normal work or household activities.
- Talar Dome Lesions: The talus is a bone that helps form the ankle joint. A talar dome lesion involves damage to the cartilage and underlying bone at the top of the talus. These injuries can occur when the ankle experiences significant force or twisting. Symptoms may include persistent pain, swelling, catching, locking, or difficulty putting weight on the affected foot. Because cartilage injuries can be more difficult to identify and treat than a straightforward sprain, a person may require additional imaging or evaluation by an orthopedic specialist.
Even if an accident victim does not require surgery immediately, that does not mean that the injury will not have lasting consequences. Some people recover completely from an ankle injury. Others experience ongoing problems that affect their mobility and quality of life.
Long-term consequences of an ankle injury may include:
- Post-Traumatic Arthritis: Damage to the ankle joint, cartilage, or surrounding structures can contribute to degenerative changes over time. Post-traumatic arthritis can cause chronic pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced mobility. A person who previously walked regularly, exercised, worked on their feet, or participated in recreational activities without difficulty may find that those activities become increasingly difficult after an accident.
- Chronic Ankle Instability: Ligament damage may result in an ankle that repeatedly feels weak or gives way. Chronic instability can interfere with walking on uneven surfaces and increase the risk of additional falls. For some injured people, ongoing instability requires prolonged physical therapy, bracing, or other treatment.
- Future Surgery: Some ankle injuries ultimately require surgery, particularly when there is significant structural damage, persistent instability, cartilage damage, or a fracture that does not heal appropriately. Future medical treatment can be an important part of a personal injury claim. A settlement that accounts only for bills already incurred may fail to address the cost of medically necessary treatment that an injured person is likely to need later.
How Dangerous Conditions Can Cause Ankle Injuries
Establishing that a fall occurred is not necessarily enough to prove that a property owner is responsible for your injuries. In a California premises liability claim, the circumstances surrounding the fall and the property owner’s responsibility for the hazard that caused the fall are important.
To win a slip and fall lawsuit, you will need to prove that the property owner (defendant) was negligent or careless. For a premises liability claim, you will have to show the following:
- The defendant knew or should have known about a dangerous condition on their property that created an unreasonable risk of harm.
- The risk of harm was foreseeable and/or violated a law (such as a safety code that requires handrails on stairs).
- The defendant failed to repair, protect against, or give adequate warning of the hazard.
- This failure to fix or warn about the dangerous condition caused your injuries.
Ankle injuries can be caused by many types of hazards, such as:
- Spills and Wet Floors: A wet floor or spill can cause a person’s foot to unexpectedly slide forward or sideways while the other foot remains planted. This can create a twisting force through the ankle. The type of surface, amount of liquid on it, visibility, lighting, and the location of the wet floor may all be relevant when investigating the accident. Photos of the floor after the accident can be important to prove that this type of hazard caused your fall.
- Uneven Flooring: A raised tile, broken floor surface, uneven transition, or unexpected change in elevation can catch the edge of a person’s shoe. Instead of the foot moving naturally with the rest of the body, the foot may stop suddenly while the ankle rotates or the body continues forward. That mechanism can contribute to sprains, fractures, and other injuries. Measurements and photographs can help to demonstrate the size and location of an irregularity. Witness accounts and surveillance footage may provide additional evidence.
- Poorly Maintained Walking Surfaces: Other hazards can include damaged carpeting, loose mats, potholes, cracked pavement, debris, inadequate transitions between flooring surfaces, or other conditions that create an unreasonable risk of falling. A thorough investigation considers not only what caused the fall, but also how long the dangerous condition existed, whether the property owner or manager knew about it, and whether reasonable steps should have been taken to correct or warn about the hazard.
Proving Negligence After an Ankle Injury
Insurance companies may argue that a person simply lost their balance and fell or that the condition of the property was not dangerous. They may also claim that an ankle injury is unrelated to the fall or less serious than claimed.
As Walnut Creek slip and fall attorneys, we work hard to build evidence to counter those arguments. This may include:
- Photographs or videos of the hazardous condition
- Surveillance footage
- Statements from witnesses
- Incident reports
- Property inspection and maintenance records
- Cleaning or inspection logs
- Communications concerning previous complaints
- Medical records and diagnostic imaging
- Expert opinions regarding the injury and accident mechanics
- Documentation of missed work and lost income
The connection between the hazard and the specific ankle injury can be particularly important. For example, if a person’s foot catches on an uneven tile and their body continues forward, the resulting twisting motion may be consistent with a particular ligament injury. If a wet floor causes the foot to slide while the ankle rotates, the resulting mechanics may help explain a sprain or other damage.
Our experienced Walnut Creek premises liability attorneys can work with experts to establish how the slip and fall accident caused your injury. We will also work with specialists to demonstrate the full financial impact of an ankle injury. Our team understands that ankle injuries can create expenses and losses long after the first emergency room visit.
Your losses can go beyond that initial visit to include:
- Physical therapy
- Braces, boots, and medical equipment
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life
- Emotional distress
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
Insurance adjusters often undervalue ankle injury claims, assuming that the injury will resolve quickly. Accepting an early settlement before the extent of an injury is understood can be a costly mistake if the symptoms persist or additional treatment becomes necessary. If you accept a settlement, you will give up your right to sue, which means that you won’t be able to seek additional money if your ankle issues persist.
Our law firm fights to get our clients top dollar for their ankle injuries. We won’t accept lowball settlement offers from the insurance company. Instead, we will put together a strong case for compensation so that you have the money that you need to move forward after a slip-and-fall accident.
Ankle Injury Attorneys Serving Walnut Creek, California
A slip-and-fall ankle injury deserves more than a quick assessment based on the first medical bill. At the Appel Law Firm, we investigate the circumstances of your fall, identify the dangerous property condition that caused it, gather evidence concerning liability, and work to document the full scope of your losses. Our goal is to help our clients pursue compensation that reflects the actual consequences of their injury.
If you suffered an ankle injury after slipping and falling because of a hazard on someone else’s property, we can help. You don’t have to accept that your injury is minor just because an insurance adjuster says it is. Our team will fight to get you full compensation for your losses. To learn more or to schedule an appointment with a Walnut Creek slip and fall injury lawyer, give us a call at (925) 938-2000 or fill out our online contact form.
