NYC Slip and Fall Skull Fracture Injuries

Under New York law, property owners have a legal duty to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. A skull fracture from a slip and fall often results from a hazard the owner knew about, or should have known about, but failed to address. When that negligence causes the accident, you may have grounds for a personal injury claim.

In the aftermath, you may be facing mounting medical bills, lost income, and an uncertain recovery, on top of the physical and emotional toll of the injury itself.

A NYC slip and fall attorney at Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb, Green & Bagley, P.C. evaluates your claim’s value based on your medical records and prognosis, and negotiates with insurers on your behalf. We fight for compensation for the full scope of your losses.

Understanding Slip and Fall Skull Fractures in NYC

Skull fractures range widely in severity. Some heal without treatment, while others cause lasting brain damage or permanent disability. Fractures are classified by their location and structure, and separately, by whether the skin over the injury has broken.

By location and structure, the main types are:

• Linear fracture: The most common type, typically occurring in the bone above the ears.
• Depressed fracture: A break that pushes part of the skull bone inward, toward the brain.
• Basal (basilar) fracture: A break at the base of the skull.
• Diastatic fracture: A separation along the cranial sutures, the connective bands between skull bones.

Separately, fractures are also classified by whether the skin over the injury is broken:

• Closed fracture: The most common form, in which the skin over the injury does not break.
• Open fracture: The skin over the injury is broken, increasing the risk of infection.

Why You Should Always Go to the ER After a Slip and Fall

Even if you feel fine immediately after hitting your head, some skull fracture symptoms don’t appear right away. Symptoms often include a lump, balance problems, or vision changes that can develop hours after the fall. Signs like clear fluid or blood draining from the nose or ears, bruising around the eyes (“raccoon eyes”) or behind the ears (Battle’s sign), or a visible depression in the skull are signs of a more serious injury and require immediate medical attention.

Seeing a doctor right away isn’t just important for your health; it also creates a medical record connecting your injury to the accident, which is critical if you later pursue a personal injury claim.

Slip and Fall Skull Fracture Compensation

Compensation, or damages, in a slip and fall skull fracture case may include:

• Medical expenses, both current and future
• Rehabilitation and therapy costs
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Home care or attendant care costs for victims who can no longer fully care for themselves
• Assistive devices and home modifications for victims with lasting mobility or cognitive impairments
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life

The value of a claim is tied directly to the severity and permanence of the injury. A victim whose skull fracture heals fully after a few months away from work will recover less than one who suffers permanent brain damage and can no longer work. This is because the second case involves far greater medical costs, a lifetime of lost income, and more extensive pain and suffering.

Contact a New York City Slip and Fall Attorney

If you have suffered slip and fall skull fracture injuries due to another party’s negligence, schedule a free consultation with a New York slip and fall lawyer at Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb, Green & Bagley, P.C. Since we work on a contingency basis, you pay no fee unless you receive compensation.

In New York, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is three years from the date of the accident. However, waiting too long can weaken your case well before that deadline arrives. Surveillance footage is often overwritten within days or weeks, and other critical evidence can disappear or become harder to obtain the longer you wait.