What Is the Most Common Mechanism of Injury to the Ankle Complex?

When you are working a job that requires you to be on your feet a lot, you may be at a higher risk of injuring your ankle complex. Because the ankle joint is so flexible, it can easily be injured in a work-related accident.

The most common cause of an ankle injury is a slip and fall accident. Some professions put workers at a higher risk of slip and fall accidents than others. For example, nurses, retail workers, and warehouse workers are all at a higher risk of slip and fall accidents.

Ankle injuries from slip and fall accidents can range in severity. Some may be easily treated at home with ice, while others may lead to permanent disability. Regardless of the severity, there are several ways a slip and fall accident can happen.

• Wet floors: When liquids such as water, ice, grease, or chemicals end up on the floor, workers can slip on them and end up injuring their ankles. This is the most common way for a slip and fall accident to happen because workers assume signs will warn them of a wet floor. But this is not always the case.
• Stairs: Another very common cause of slip and fall accidents is stairs. When stairs are uneven or poorly designed, workers can easily trip going up or down. Adding striped stair treads can make stairs more visible.
• Slippery surfaces: Even if a surface is not wet, it can still be slippery, especially if it is a polished surface. Workers should wear non-slip shoes to prevent a slip and fall accident.
• Poor safety at work: Sometimes, necessary safety precautions are not followed, leading to accidents at work. For example, maybe a hose was left out, leading to a trip hazard. Or perhaps no one replaced that burned-out light bulb or put up a “wet floor” sign.

If you injured your ankle due to the negligence of the landlord or a property manager, you can hire an attorney to file a personal injury case. You will have a stronger case is you can prove that your landlord knew about a potential hazard but did nothing about it. This is because, under the law, property owners and managers have a duty of care to keep their property safe for visitors. This also includes your employer.

There are a few common types of ankle injuries workers might suffer from after an accident at work.

• Sprains: These can happen if a worker twists their ankle in a fall. Many can be treated at home, but some may require surgery.
• Cartilage damage: Serious sprains can lead to damage of the surrounding cartilage in the ankle as well.
• Fractures in the bones: If a fall is serious enough, a worker may break one or more of the tiny bones in the ankle. These bones can break easily because they are so small. You will most like have to see an orthopedic doctor for this type of ankle injury.

No matter how your accident happened or what type of ankle injury you have, you should immediately notify your supervisor in writing about your accident. Sometimes an ankle injury is more severe than it seems at first and should not be overlooked. If it’s a complicated case, it’s recommended to hire an experienced personal injury attorney.