Mark Anderson | April 28, 2026 | Slip and Fall
A slip and fall accident in Dallas can leave you with all kinds of aches and pains, including discomfort at the base of your spine. You have a segment of bone in that area called your coccyx, or tailbone, that can sustain damage if you land on it.
The pain can be intense, but it may not be clear whether you’ve suffered a bruised or broken tailbone. Take a closer look at how you can tell the difference and what your legal options may be if someone else is responsible for your injury.
What Is Your Tailbone?
Your coccyx is a small triangular bone that sits at the base of your spine. It functions as an anchor for the tendons, ligaments, and muscles of the pelvic floor. Your coccyx also provides stability when you sit.
As with any other type of bone, if it sustains trauma, it can crack. This can cause stiffness and pain that prevent you from moving normally. But how can you tell if you fractured your tailbone as opposed to having just bruised it?
What Is the Difference Between a Broken Tailbone and a Bruised Tailbone?
It’s not always easy to differentiate between a broken or bruised coccyx, but paying attention to your symptoms can help.
Generally, a fractured tailbone will cause symptoms like:
- Sharp and intense pain
- Trouble sitting, walking, or changing positions
- Swelling
- Tingling in the legs
- Pain during bowel movements
- Numbness in the legs
A bruised tailbone, on the other hand, can cause the following issues:
- Moderate, duller pain
- Some discomfort when walking
- Mild swelling
A broken tailbone can take months to heal, while a bruised one typically gets better in a few weeks.
How Are Bruised and Broken Tailbones Typically Treated?
Treatment for a tailbone injury depends on whether the bone is bruised or broken, but most cases are managed conservatively without surgery.
A bruised tailbone is typically treated with rest, ice, and over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce inflammation and discomfort. Patients are often advised to avoid prolonged sitting, use a cushioned or donut-shaped pillow, and modify activities that put pressure on the lower spine. Gentle stretching and physical therapy may also be recommended.
A broken tailbone is treated similarly in many cases, as these fractures usually heal on their own over time. However, pain may be more severe and last longer. In rare instances where pain becomes chronic or does not respond to conservative care, more advanced treatments—such as injections or surgical removal of the coccyx—may be considered.
Regardless of the severity, proper diagnosis and follow-up care are important to ensure healing and rule out more serious issues.
Can I File a Personal Injury Claim After a Bruised or Broken Tailbone in Texas?
Whether you bruised or broke your tailbone, it may be possible to begin a personal injury claim to recover your losses if another party’s misconduct led to the injury. In the same way you would file a claim after a car accident, you can usually do so after a fall.
In Texas, premises liability laws can help you obtain compensation for a fall. These laws require property owners or managers to keep their properties reasonably safe for visitors and guests. To file a claim, you must show that the property owner was aware there was a hazard on their property and did nothing to address the problem. Their conduct must have led to your losses.
Contact the Dallas Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers at Anderson Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Because of the complexity of these claims, it’s essential to consider hiring an attorney to assist you. Not only will they know how to gather the most pertinent evidence to demonstrate that the property owner caused your tailbone injury, but they will also be able to aggressively negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.
You are already dealing with the pain of the injury. You shouldn’t also have to stress about the legal process when there’s help available. For more information, contact the Dallas slip and fall accident lawyers at Anderson Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation about your accident.
We proudly serve Tarrant County, Dallas County, Travis County, and throughout Texas.
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About the Author
Mark A. Anderson is the founder of Anderson Injury Lawyers and a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer—an honor held by only a small percentage of Texas attorneys. He earned his law degree from Baylor University School of Law and has spent more than 20 years helping injury victims across Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin. Mark handles cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, product liability, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, and more. Click here to view some of the successful case results Mark has achieved for his clients.
Location: Dallas, Fort Worth, and Austin, Texas
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