A traumatic brain injury is one of the most severe injuries a person can sustain in a working environment. Each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 61,000 American die from traumatic brain injuries, with thousands more seriously injured, requiring extensive long-term care, not only in California but across the country.
That is why it is essential to know how to detect traumatic brain injuries at work, what treatment options are available, and how California workers’ compensation attorneys can help.
Work-related accidents are among the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries. Although first responders, military personnel, and construction workers face the most significant risk, anyone can be the victim of a traumatic brain injury resulting from a workplace accident.
Traumatic Brain Injury Warning Signs
If you suspect that you or someone around you may have sustained a work-related traumatic brain injury, you’ll want to be on the lookout for symptoms such as:
- Light sensitivity
- Sound sensitivity
- Poor balance
- Memory loss
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Drowsiness
- Speech problems
- Ear ringing
- Blurred vision
- An unpleasant taste in the mouth
- Issues with smell
It is important to note that traumatic brain injury symptoms may not present themselves until hours and sometimes days after the incident. A complete medical evaluation is the only way to confirm that someone has suffered a traumatic brain injury. Therefore, if you have sustained an injury in a workplace accident, you must seek medical attention immediately, no matter how minor the incident may seem.
Traumatic Brain Injury Treatments
First, a physician must diagnose the traumatic brain injury and its severity. That usually entails performing a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) assessment, a 15-point exam that allows healthcare professionals to determine if someone might have suffered a traumatic brain injury. The physician will then perform medical imaging tests, such as an MRI or CT scan, to determine the location and severity of the traumatic brain injury.
If the doctor determines a traumatic brain injury has occurred, a wide range of treatments will be made available to you, depending on the severity of the injury, including:
- Several days of rest, particularly in mind concussion cases.
- Prescription medications may include anti-seizure or coma-inducing medications.
- Emergency surgery, particularly if brain inflammation, blood clots, internal bleeding, or a reduced supply of oxygen is present.
- Long-term care, particularly in the case of a severe traumatic brain injury.
Every brain injury will affect a victim differently, and your doctor will help you to decide what treatment will be best for you.
What To Do After a Traumatic Brain Injury at Work
If you suspect that you may have sustained a traumatic brain injury at work, you should immediately follow these steps:
- Immediately seek medical attention.
- Follow the advice of your physician.
- Report the incident to your employer.
- Talk to a workers’ compensation attorney.
How a California Workers’ Comp Lawyer Can Help
If you or someone you love has suffered a traumatic brain injury in a workplace accident, the experienced workers’ comp attorneys at Aoudi Law can help. Our team has what it takes to ensure that any California worker injured on the job gets the compensation they deserve.
The California workers’ compensation lawyers from the Aoudi Law team have extensive experience representing clients who have suffered a traumatic brain injury. So whether you are just starting the workers’ compensation claims process or if your employer’s insurance company has denied your claim, the professional staff at Aoudi Law has your back.
Call or text 714-769-8706 today for a free consultation.
