Trip and Fall: Injuries and How It Differs From Slips (2025)

What’s a Trip and Fall?

While similar to a slip and fall accident, a trip and fall often involves stumbling forward as opposed to slipping backward or at an angle. As a result, injuries sustained in trip and fall accidents tend to differ from the former, including things such as facial trauma, abrasions, and fractures to the wrists or arms.

Usually, people who trip do so over an uneven surface, an exposed cord, a poorly maintained sidewalk, or other such obstruction. Conversely, a slip and fall typically involves walking onto a slippery surface, such as a wet floor or icy sidewalk, and losing your footing as a result.

A slip and fall happens when a person loses their footing on a slippery or unstable surface, often falling backward. In contrast, a trip and fall involves stumbling over an obstruction, leading to a forward fall. The injuries from these incidents vary because of the different mechanics of the fall.

• Slip and Fall Examples: Wet floors, icy sidewalks, or loose rugs.
• Trip and Fall Examples: Uneven sidewalks, power cords, cluttered hallways, or cracks in pavement.

Examples of Trip and Fall Injuries:

• Fractures to the wrists or arms from bracing the fall.
• Facial trauma or broken teeth due to impact with the ground.
• Sprained ankles or knees from tripping over uneven surfaces.
• Cuts or abrasions from falling onto jagged or rough terrain.

Are Trip and Fall Accidents Common?

Trip and fall cases are more common in certain industries, such as construction. Every year, roughly 1,000 construction workers die on the job, sometimes due to trip and fall-related incidents.

However, that doesn’t mean that trip and fall claims are exclusive to high-risk fields like construction or industrial settings. In 2022, over 46,000 people died from falls at work or in their homes. In fact, these types of incidents account for over one million emergency room visits every year.

What to Do Immediately After a Fall

In the aftermath of a trip and fall, it’s natural to experience a mix of emotions, ranging from fear and frustration to anxiousness and even embarrassment. It may be tough, but it’s best to try to stay calm then do the following:

Seek Medical Attention

Your medical needs come first. Don’t try to spring to your feet, as you might accidentally stumble again and further harm yourself. Instead, sit up slowly if you feel able or stay on the ground if you know your injuries are severe. Contact emergency medical providers so they can address your immediate needs.

If your injuries seem minor at first, you might be tempted to skip seeing a doctor. However, many trip and fall injuries—such as concussions, internal bruising, or hairline fractures—may not be immediately obvious. Seeking medical attention right away ensures that these hidden injuries are diagnosed and treated before they worsen. Additionally, medical records documenting your injuries will play a crucial role in supporting your claim for compensation.

Even if you think you’re uninjured, a professional evaluation can confirm whether the fall caused underlying damage. Delays in seeking care can weaken your legal case by giving the opposing party an opportunity to argue that your injuries weren’t related to the fall.

Notify the Premise Owner

Next, make sure the property owner is notified. Let them know what happened, and make it clear that you’ve suffered harm. Don’t go into too much detail, though, especially if you think you might want to file a personal injury claim later.

Document Everything

If you are able, take pictures of the area where you fell. Document the conditions of the surface that you tripped on, making special note of any obstructions. Additionally, gather the information of any witnesses so that you can get in touch with them later.

If you can’t retrieve that information, ask a friend or family member to help you. You’ll want to have a record of the property conditions on the day of your incident, especially if your fall was caused by an obstruction like a power cord, box, or other item that could have easily been moved.

Connect With An Experienced Attorney

A skilled trip and fall lawyer can help you file a claim for your trip and fall accident. While your recovery amount will vary based on the unique circumstances of your case and the severity of your trip and fall injuries, the average settlement amount is approximately $125,000. A good attorney will work to maximize the value of your claim and help ensure you obtain enough funds to cover medication costs, surgeries, and other expenses.

Even if you are injured at work, you may still be entitled to compensation. The average workers’ comp settlement amount in the United States is roughly $41,000. These settlements typically include damages for employee negligence and may also include punitive fines for improperly handling the incident.

A skilled trip and fall attorney does more than file paperwork—they build a comprehensive case to prove negligence. This process often includes obtaining surveillance footage of the fall, reviewing property maintenance logs, and interviewing witnesses who saw the incident. For example, an attorney might uncover that the property owner ignored safety standards or failed to address a known hazard in a timely manner.

In many cases, legal teams also bring in experts to testify about the dangerous conditions that caused your fall. By gathering this evidence, your attorney strengthens your claim and increases the likelihood of a favorable settlement or court ruling. Proper legal guidance can help you recover costs for medical treatment, lost wages, and emotional distress.

Need to File a Trip and Fall Lawsuit? ConsumerShield Can Help

At ConsumerShield, we connect everyday people who have been injured with experienced legal professionals in their area. Whether your trip and fall occurred at work or as you visited your favorite shop, we can find you an attorney who can help.

Simply fill out our contact form, and we’ll put you in touch with an attorney who can help. They’ll provide a consultation, walk you through the settlement process, and give you sound advice on what to do next.

You’ll enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing that the lawyer you speak to has been carefully vetted by the ConsumerShild team. They’ll have a proven track record of success in your area of need and will be prepared to fight for justice on your behalf.