Even though your skull provides protection, your brain is still vulnerable to trauma and injury. Accidents, such as slips and falls or other workplace injuries, can result in a range of head trauma that may not appear until later in life, leaving you with lasting effects. 

That’s why it’s essential to document these common workplace injuries, seek out medical care as soon as possible, and avoid underestimating the severity of the issue. If you or a loved one experienced a traumatic brain injury or significant head trauma, it is time to seek the just compensation you deserve.

What Is Traumatic Brain Injury?

Due to your head and neck structure, any head trauma could result in a severe injury. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) directly results from a violent hit or jolt to the head, neck, or body. There are three primary types of traumatic brain injuries, including:

  • Mild TBI or concussion
  • Moderate TBI
  • Severe TBI

While many injuries are relatively minor, more serious traumatic brain injury occurs more often than you think. If left unnoticed or untreated, these could lead to life-long complications or death. 

In fact, according to a 2019 study, there were an estimated 61,000 TBI-related deaths in the United States that year, averaging around 166 TBI deaths each day. While death is an unfortunate possibility, the number of those dealing with moderate to long-term side effects is even higher. 

Traumatic Brain Injury Warning Symptoms 

Even if you take all necessary preventative measures, accidents can still occur. Afterward, it’s crucial to get a thorough medical exam to see if there is any noticeable bruising, scarring, or bleeding from the soft tissues and cells along with your brain and brainstem. 

If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms post-workplace accident, you need to seek out medical attention right away.

Common Minor Head Trauma Signs

  • Headaches
  • Blurred vision
  • Nausea 
  • Vomiting
  • Fatigue 
  • Slurred speech
  • Dizziness 
  • Sensory sensitivities 

Common Moderate to Severe Head Trauma Signs

  • Slurred speech
  • Loss of consciousness 
  • Continuous vomiting 
  • Convulsions and seizures
  • Persistently increasing headaches 
  • Clear fluid drainage
  • Extensive physical, behaviors, and mental issues

Short and Long-Term Complications Associated With Traumatic Brain Injury

Unfortunately, head injuries can take time to fully develop, which is why they can be even more devastating. What may start as a series of headaches can easily take a turn for the worst and develop into one of many long-term complications, including:

  • Seizures
  • Infections
  • Fluid buildup 
  • Regular headaches
  • Vertigo
  • Coma
  • Vegetative state
  • Degenerative brain disease
  • Brain death

Many physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral complications can take days, weeks, months, and even years to fully develop. Thankfully, there are ways to help mitigate many of these complications. Depending on the severity, your medical provider will offer helpful solutions to mitigate symptoms. 

Workplace incidents happen all the time to even the most prepared. As such, a slip or fall could result in more than minor bumps and bruises. Even if you don’t see any physical injuries after hitting your head, you may still have received some. 

Since it may take time for TBIs to appear, it is imperative to inform your employer and seek out additional help. 

There is no time to waste after experiencing a potentially traumatic accident at work. While you’ll need to fill out an incident report with your respective manager, there are additional steps you will want to take to help with recovery and legal protections.

Navigating Workers’ Compensation

All W-2 employees who’ve been injured on the job have a right to workers’ compensation.  This coverage includes mental and physical injuries, regardless of what an employer might say. In fact, employers are supposed to help employees figure out and file a claim through workers’ compensation. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen, so it is imperative to know your rights and what steps to take post workplace injury.

If you or a loved one experienced an accident at work, make sure to take action into your own hands by following these steps:

  1. Report your injury as soon as possible.
  2. Seek medical treatment right away to not only address your wounds but also to get additional documentation about the incident.
  3. Inform your healthcare provider that it was a work-related injury.
  4. Submit a written statement to your employer within 14 days, detailing your accident and injury. Your employer is then legally obligated to submit additional legal documents to the state.
  5. Record all missed workdays, travel, and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred from the accident. You will need this information later when seeking compensation.
  6. Seek out a compassionate and skilled workers’ compensation lawyer at any point you need help navigating the process, or you feel uncertain your employer will help. 

Work With a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer 

Even though this process can be tedious, you don’t have to go through it alone. For example, suppose you have sustained brain injuries from a workplace accident. In that case, it is imperative that you reach out to the workers’ compensation lawyers at Mottaz & Sisk to be a trusted advocate for you during this time.

In Minnesota, there are several workers’ compensation benefits available, such as:

  • Lost wages
  • Home adjustment aid
  • Vocational rehab
  • Dependent and survivor’s benefits
  • Financial compensation 

By working with a knowledgeable workers’ compensation lawyer, you will have a better chance of getting the benefits you deserve for your head trauma.

Take Action for Traumatic Brain Injury Compensation

Traumatic brain injuries can have lasting effects, which is why it is so crucial to document and treat them as soon as possible. In addition, navigating what to do post-brain injury is essential to getting the care and potential compensation you deserve, especially if this incident occurred at work. 

At Mottaz & Sisk, we understand how overwhelming this time may be for you, which is why we strive to be such a strong legal advocate and maintain communication throughout the whole process. While you focus on healing, we will focus on representing you and securing the compensation you deserve.

Call us today to schedule your free consultation!