Head Injury Cases in Workers’ Compensation Claims
Experiencing a head injury at work can be incredibly challenging, which is why workers’ compensation insurance is in place— to help ease the financial burden of paying for medical care and missing work.
Head injuries can be serious, leading to expensive medical bills and significant loss in wages. Workers’ compensation lawyers are here to help injured workers receive the benefits they need to recover from the accident medically and financially.
The damage from a head injury may not always be obvious at first. Some people may have a concussion and not even know it. For this reason, it is better to overestimate the impact rather than underestimating it. Once an injury goes unreported, there is a certain point in time in which the injury can no longer be covered by workers’ compensation. There are time limits on completing documentation.
This is why taking action on a work-related injury is a good idea, even if you are unsure whether or not you qualify for benefits.
Book a free consultation with us so we can evaluate your claim. Let us be the ones to decide whether you have a case or not so you can focus on recovering.
What is Considered a Work-Related Head Injury?
A work-related head injury is any injury to the head that occurs while performing job-related duties. If you are following proper procedures, these injuries should be covered under workers’ compensation insurance, provided your employer carries it. Most sizable companies are legally required to offer this protection to their employees.
Head injuries can vary in severity, and some may result in traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), which can have long-term effects on memory, cognitive function, and overall quality of life. TBIs often require extensive medical care and rehabilitation, making it even more critical to ensure your injury is properly documented and covered through workers’ compensation benefits.
Types of head injuries could include any of the following:
- contusions
- concussions
- skull fractures
- penetrating wounds
- intracranial hematoma
- traumatic brain injuries
Once you suffer an injury, you can file a workers’ compensation claim with your employer after receiving immediate medical care.
How to Recognize a Head Injury
Head injuries can be scary because they aren’t always obvious. This is why seeking medical attention after an accident is crucial even if you don’t feel pain. Signs and symptoms of a head injury include:
- Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache
- Confusion, memory or concentration difficulties
- Sleep changes, drowsiness, or inability to stay awake
- Slurred speech, double vision, sensitivity to light/noise
- Weakness, numbness, decreased coordination
- Difficulty walking, seizures, or convulsions
- One pupil larger than the other
- Blood or fluid draining from nose/ears
- Bruising, swelling, or loss of consciousness
Medical records can also be used as crucial evidence when proving the validity of a head injury at work claim. Detailed documentation from healthcare providers, including diagnostic reports, treatment plans, and progress notes, can help establish the severity of the injury and its direct connection to the workplace incident.
Common Causes of Head Injuries
Head injuries at work are unfortunately common and can have serious consequences. These injuries often occur due to a variety of workplace hazards. Common causes include:
- Falls: Slipping, tripping, or falling from heights, such as ladders, scaffolding, or elevated platforms, are frequent causes of head injuries.
- Impacts from tools: Tools accidentally dropped or mishandled can strike workers, leading to serious injuries.
- Exposure to explosions: Explosions, especially in high-risk industries, can cause blunt force trauma or debris-related head injuries.
- Being struck by falling objects: Items falling from above, like materials on a construction site, pose a significant danger.
- Collisions with moving machinery: Accidents involving forklifts, conveyor belts, or heavy machinery can result in head injuries.
High-risk industries for head injuries include construction, manufacturing, warehousing, truck driving, agriculture, forestry, and mining, where hazards are more prevalent due to the nature of the work.
Contributing factors to these injuries include:
- Wet floors: Slippery surfaces increase the risk of falls.
- Cluttered work areas: Poorly organized spaces make it difficult to navigate safely, increasing hazards.
- Not following safety procedures: Ignoring or neglecting established safety protocols significantly raises the risk of accidents.
- Improper or poorly maintained equipment: Faulty or outdated tools and machinery can fail during use, putting workers at risk.
Understanding these causes and contributing factors is crucial for creating a safer work environment and preventing head injuries.
Steps to Take if You Suspect a Head Injury
Take immediate action if you suspect a head injury. Head injuries can be serious, even if symptoms seem mild at first, so it’s important to respond quickly and carefully.
1. Seek medical care. Your health is the top priority. See a doctor or visit an emergency room as soon as possible to get a proper evaluation and treatment. Early medical intervention can help identify any hidden issues and prevent complications.
2. Report the injury to your employer. Notify your employer about the incident as soon as you can. Make sure the injury is documented in writing, as this will be crucial for filing a workers’ compensation claim.
3. Contact a lawyer for your workers’ compensation claim. Navigating a workers’ compensation claim can be stressful and confusing. An experienced attorney can ensure your claim is filed properly and help you receive the benefits you’re entitled to.
4. Gather any documentation you can. Collect as much evidence as possible to support your claim. This may include photographs of the accident site, witness statements, medical records documenting your injury, and any communications with your employer. The more thorough your documentation, the stronger your case will be.
Taking these steps can help protect your health and your rights after a head injury at work.
Our Process for Head Injuries
Here at The Law Offices of Craig L. Cook, our lawyers have been helping injured workers with their compensation claims for over 40 years combined. We are experts when it comes to helping our clients recover maximal benefits for their losses. We do this by:
- Educating our workers on their rights.
- Helping our clients file claims with their employer.
- Gathering any evidence needed for the injury claim.
- Negotiating a settlement with the insurance companies.
- Helping injured people get the benefits they’re eligible for.
- Handling all paperwork accurately and by the required deadline.
- Assisting with any potential steps afterward such as appeals or a trial.
- Advocating on your behalf to make sure you get the amount of money you deserve.
We will tell you what other workers’ comp lawyers won’t tell you. We believe knowledge is power, and because we understand workers’ compensation laws through and through, we share this information with you.
We also protect you in case your employer retaliates against you for filing a claim, you are fired while on workers’ comp, or you experience any negative outcomes due to you filing a workers’ compensation claim.
Being Justly Compensated for Your Head Injury
Head injuries can be incredibly costly, especially if they leave you temporarily or permanently disabled. The purpose of a workers’ compensation claim is to be reimbursed for medical bills and lost wages. Even missing one paycheck’s worth of work can create financial stress. We want you to receive the monetary support you need to recover.
While we are confident we can help you receive benefits, we do want you to know some important considerations that may affect how much money you’re eligible to receive.
There are many factors influencing the value of a claim and what medical costs will be covered, including:
- pre-existing conditions
- the severity of the injury
- future work limitations at play
- whether or not surgery is needed
- the amount of time you missed work
- the extent of medical treatment required
We don’t want you to be cheated by your employer or the insurance company when it comes to workers’ comp benefits. Sometimes they will deny a claim, treat workers unfairly for pursuing a claim, or give employees too small of a settlement for their claim. We have seen illegal and unethical actions taken against injured employees, and we want to make sure that doesn’t happen to you.
Book a free consultation with us so we can safeguard your rights and ease your path to recovery.
