Spinal Fractures from Falls: Legal Options in Chicago

How Falls Cause Spinal Fractures

A spinal fracture is a break in one or more of the vertebrae that make up the spinal column. Falls are the second leading cause of spinal cord injuries in the United States, behind only motor vehicle accidents.

When you fall, your body hits the ground with force that travels through your skeleton. If you land on your feet, the force compresses your lumbar and thoracic spine from below. If you fall backward, the impact can fracture your cervical spine or the back of your skull. Falls from even a few feet can fracture vertebrae, especially in older adults.

In Chicago, spinal fractures from falls happen at construction sites, in grocery stores, on icy sidewalks, in apartment buildings with broken stairs, and at workplaces with unsafe conditions. When a property owner or employer fails to maintain safe conditions, they can be held liable for the resulting injuries.

Types of Spinal Fractures from Falls

Compression Fractures

Compression fractures happen when a vertebra collapses under pressure. The front of the vertebra crushes down while the back stays intact, giving the bone a wedge shape. These are the most common spinal fractures from falls. They typically occur in the thoracic and lumbar spine.

Burst Fractures

A burst fracture is more severe than a compression fracture. The vertebra breaks in multiple directions, and bone fragments can scatter into the spinal canal. Burst fractures carry a high risk of spinal cord damage. They often require surgery.

Chance Fractures

A Chance fracture occurs when the vertebra is pulled apart. This typically happens when the upper body is thrown forward violently while the lower body stays fixed. Falls that involve hitting a barrier or railing at waist height can cause this type of fracture.

Fracture-Dislocations

A fracture-dislocation happens when a vertebra breaks and the bone also shifts out of alignment with the vertebrae above and below. This is the most unstable and dangerous type of spinal fracture. It almost always involves spinal cord damage.

Symptoms of a Spinal Fracture

Spinal fracture symptoms depend on the location and severity of the break. Common symptoms include:

• Sudden, severe back or neck pain
• Pain that gets worse with movement
• Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
• Muscle weakness or spasms
• Difficulty walking or standing
• Loss of bladder or bowel control (a medical emergency)
• Visible deformity of the spine

If you fall and experience any of these symptoms, do not try to move. Call 911 immediately. Moving with an unstable spinal fracture can cause further damage to the spinal cord.

Where Spinal Fracture Falls Happen in Chicago

Construction Sites

Falls from scaffolding, ladders, roofs, and elevated platforms are a leading cause of construction injuries in Chicago. OSHA reports that falls are the number one cause of death in the construction industry. Workers who survive falls from heights frequently suffer spinal fractures.

Illinois workers’ compensation covers medical expenses and partial lost wages for construction workers injured on the job. But if a third party’s negligence caused the fall, such as a scaffolding manufacturer or general contractor, you may also have a personal injury claim that provides additional compensation.

Slip and Fall on Commercial Property

Wet floors in grocery stores. Icy parking lots outside shopping centers. Broken steps in apartment buildings. Loose carpeting in office buildings. These hazards cause falls that fracture spines every day in Chicago.

Property owners in Illinois have a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions. When they fail to address known hazards or fail to warn visitors about dangerous conditions, they are liable for injuries that result from falls on their property.

Workplace Falls

Falls from ladders, elevated work platforms, loading docks, and stairs happen in warehouses, factories, and offices throughout the Chicago area. Employers must provide safe working conditions under OSHA regulations and Illinois law.

Nursing Home Falls

Elderly residents in nursing homes are at high risk for falls that cause spinal fractures. Understaffing, inadequate supervision, and failure to implement fall prevention protocols contribute to these injuries. Nursing home falls may give rise to a negligence claim against the facility.

Treatment for Spinal Fractures

Non-Surgical Treatment

Stable spinal fractures without spinal cord involvement may be treated conservatively:

• Bracing to immobilize the spine while it heals
• Pain medication
• Physical therapy once the fracture has healed
• Activity restrictions for several months

Surgical Treatment

Unstable fractures, burst fractures, and fracture-dislocations usually require surgery. Common procedures include:

• Vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty: Injecting bone cement into the fractured vertebra to stabilize it
• Spinal fusion: Using metal rods, screws, and bone grafts to fuse vertebrae together
• Decompression surgery: Removing bone fragments pressing on the spinal cord

Surgical treatment for spinal fractures in Chicago can cost $50,000 to $200,000 or more. Rehabilitation adds significantly to the total.

Compensation for Spinal Fractures from Falls in Illinois

If your spinal fracture was caused by someone else’s negligence, you can seek compensation for:

• All medical expenses, including surgery and rehabilitation
• Future medical care for ongoing spinal problems
• Lost wages during your recovery
• Reduced earning capacity if the injury is permanent
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Emotional distress

Proving a Premises Liability Case

To win a slip and fall or premises liability case in Illinois, you must prove:

1. The property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition
2. The property owner failed to fix the hazard or warn about it
3. The dangerous condition caused your fall
4. You suffered injuries and damages as a result

Evidence matters. Photographs of the hazard, incident reports, surveillance video, witness statements, and maintenance records all help prove your case. Preserve this evidence as soon as possible after the fall.

Illinois Statute of Limitations

You have two years from the date of the fall to file a personal injury lawsuit in Illinois. For construction workers, the workers’ compensation claim process has different deadlines. Consult a lawyer promptly to make sure you do not miss any filing deadlines.

Talk to a Chicago Spinal Injury Lawyer

A spinal fracture from a fall can leave you unable to work for months or permanently. The medical bills pile up fast. You need a lawyer who understands spinal injuries and knows how to hold negligent property owners and employers accountable.

Call Phillips Law Offices at (312) 346-4262 or contact us online for a free consultation. We handle spinal fracture cases throughout Chicago and Illinois, and we do not charge a fee unless we recover compensation for you.