Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury overall, accounting for nearly half of all TBI-related emergency department visits. When falls result from property owner negligence, victims can pursue premises liability claims for their brain injuries.

How Falls Cause Brain Injuries

Falls cause TBI through:

  • Direct head impact – The head strikes floors, stairs, or ground surfaces
  • Acceleration-deceleration – The brain moves within the skull during sudden stops
  • Rotational forces – Twisting motions during falls tear nerve fibers

Even falls from standing height can cause serious TBI—the brain is vulnerable, and hard surfaces like concrete or tile amplify impact forces.

High-Risk Populations

Elderly Adults

Seniors face elevated TBI risk from falls due to:

  • Balance and mobility impairments
  • Medications affecting coordination
  • Slower reflexes to break falls
  • Thinner skulls providing less protection
  • Blood thinners increasing bleeding risk

Children

Young children suffer TBI from falls due to:

  • Developing balance and coordination
  • Proportionally larger and heavier heads
  • Risk-taking behavior
  • Playground and furniture falls

Premises Liability Claims

Property owners have a duty to maintain reasonably safe premises. Negligent conditions causing falls include:

  • Wet or slippery floors – Spills, rain tracked inside, freshly mopped surfaces without warnings
  • Uneven surfaces – Broken sidewalks, raised floor transitions, parking lot defects
  • Inadequate lighting – Dark stairwells, unlit parking lots
  • Missing handrails – Stairs without required railings
  • Cluttered walkways – Merchandise, cords, or debris in walking paths
  • Defective stairs – Broken steps, inconsistent riser heights
  • Weather hazards – Uncleared ice and snow

Proving Liability

Fall TBI cases require proving:

  • A dangerous condition existed
  • The property owner knew or should have known about it
  • The owner failed to fix the hazard or warn of it
  • The condition caused the fall and resulting TBI

Evidence Preservation

Evidence of dangerous conditions often disappears quickly. Photograph the scene immediately, identify witnesses, and request surveillance footage before it's deleted.

Challenges in Fall TBI Cases

  • No witnesses – Many falls occur without observers
  • Condition corrected – Hazards fixed before documentation
  • Comparative fault – Claims the victim wasn't watching where they walked
  • Pre-existing conditions – Arguments that cognitive symptoms predated the fall

Damages

Fall TBI damages include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and diminished quality of life. For elderly victims, TBI often accelerates cognitive decline and increases long-term care needs.

Conclusion

Falls causing TBI are often preventable when property owners maintain safe premises. If you suffered a brain injury in a fall on someone else's property, an attorney can investigate whether negligent conditions caused your injury and pursue compensation from responsible parties.