Although motor vehicle accidents are one of the most common causes of traumatic brain injury, according to the CDC, brain injuries are also common in workplace accidents in California. Unfortunately, a traumatic brain injury can result in permanent brain damage, even in the mildest cases.
Of course, workers in specific industries, like the construction industry, are at greater risk of traumatic brain injury. Still, workers from all employment fields risk suffering a catastrophic brain injury from a workplace-related accident.
Other industries where workers face an increased risk of suffering a traumatic brain injury include:
- Transportation
- Agriculture
- Fishing
- Forestry
- Healthcare
- Emergency response services
Workplace Hazards Causing Brain Injuries
Workers who suffer a brain injury from a workplace accident or an accident while the victim performs their job duties will generally be entitled to workers’ compensation. Under California’s workers’ compensation law, you will be entitled to compensation for some lost wages as well as for medical expenses you face due to your workplace injury.
However, no one wants to suffer a workplace injury, especially one that can result in traumatic brain injury. That’s why workers need to protect themselves from such accidents.
Workplace brain injuries are most commonly caused by:
Trips, Slips, and Falls
When spills aren’t cleaned up quickly enough, or if there’s clutter in a work area, an employee may trip or slip and fall. Whenever an individual falls, depending on the circumstances, it can result in a life-altering head injury.
Falling or Flying Objects
Objects that are precariously placed in high places, whether on warehouse shelves, storage spaces, or construction sites, can easily fall and injure a worker down below.
Falls From Great Heights
Particularly in construction, where workers climb ladders or scaffolding and work high above the ground, a fall can cause serious injury. Even in seemingly safer workplaces like retail stores, employees face traumatic brain injuries, especially if they use ladders for stocking products on high shelves.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
As mentioned above, motor vehicle accidents are among the most common causes of traumatic brain injury. Truck drivers, public transit workers, delivery drivers, and others who drive a vehicle for work are at risk of traumatic brain injury.
Safety Precautions Workers Can Take to Prevent Workplace Brain Injuries
Employers, particularly those whose workers are in high-risk environments, should be taking appropriate measures to prevent workplace accidents and brain injuries. That means regularly inspecting ladders to ensure stability and providing workers with appropriate safety gear, such as protective helmets, particularly in high-risk industries like construction. In addition, employers should supply harnesses to workers who work on scaffolding.
Brain Injury Symptoms
When a California worker experiences a head injury from a fall or another accident that could affect their head, that worker must be taken to a hospital for immediate medical treatment. A doctor must examine any California worker who has suffered a possible head injury as soon as possible to check for symptoms and signs of a traumatic brain injury.
In most instances, California workers’ comp benefits will cover the costs of the emergency room visit, hospitalization, and any other related medical treatments. Therefore, there is no reason for an employee to delay getting the help that they need.
Common symptoms of brain injury include:
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Consciousness loss
- Dizziness
- Changes in their sleep patterns
- Light sensitivity
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Vision impairment
- Ringing in the ears
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Seizures
- Memory issues
- Loss of balance
Every possible brain injury must be addressed with urgency. Anyone who sustains a traumatic brain injury often feels fine after the accident. However, feeling okay doesn’t mean that you didn’t suffer brain damage. That’s why it remains crucial that head injury victims seek medical assistance immediately. This process will also start the paper trail necessary to support any workers’ comp claim you may file.
Compensation for Workplace Brain Injuries
California workers’ comp will usually cover a worker’s medical treatments following a traumatic brain injury. However, insurance companies can often make the claims process difficult and try and deny certain benefits.
Traumatic brain injuries are severe and may often result in life-altering medical conditions, complications, and long-term job and wage losses. Unfortunately, insurance companies often try to avoid covering the cost of long-term medical care and payout as little as possible in disability benefits. That is why it is essential for anyone who has suffered any brain injury as a result of a workplace accident to hire a workers’ compensation attorney to help them obtain the compensation they deserve.
The experienced team of workers’ compensation professionals from Aoudi Law has the experience necessary to ensure that victims of workplace traumatic brain injuries get the compensation they deserve. The workers’ compensation attorneys at Aoudi Law have helped countless California brain injury victims.
Call or text 714-386-9874 today for a free consultation.
