If you recently suffered a blow to the head on your construction job, it is critical to seek professional medical attention as soon as you can. Any time that a construction worker suffers a blow to the head, his or her employer may hold liability for the medical costs of treating the injury and other expenses.
Unfortunately, many workers, especially undocumented workers, worry that their employer will not respond well to the accident and don’t want to “rock the boat,” fearing that bringing it up may threaten their jobs. This is a reasonable fear, but the law offers some important protections to workers who suffer injuries on the job, and you may qualify to receive those benefits.
A blow to the head can cause a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), which may make it very difficult for a construction worker to do his or her job. This is especially true if the worker’s employer does not understand the seriousness of the injury and the symptoms. If you need help communicating with your employer about your injury, an experienced personal injury attorney can guide you through this process and keep your rights protected.
Mild TBI symptoms in the workplace
A mild TBI can produce many symptoms, some more obvious than others. Some victims may experience ongoing headaches or seizures, for instance. While these are painful and frightening symptoms for the victim, it is easier for those around the victim to recognize them as symptoms of an injury.
However, other symptoms often make the victim seem mean or distant, which is difficult for family and coworkers alike. Some of the most commonly destructive symptoms include changes in a victim’s ability to think clearly or concentrate on a task, or changes in the way the victim interprets words.
Mild TBI victims often experience intense anger and frustration, and may have outbursts that surprise or frighten those around them. This is not a choice by the victim, it is because of the injury to the victim’s brain. Often the victim cannot control these outbursts until the injury heals.
Victims may misinterpret things they read or conversations coworker or superiors have with them, even if they understand all the words in a particular sentence. For victims who do not speak English as their first language, these symptoms are even more frustrating. In many cases, the victim still understands the individual words they read or hear, but struggles to understand the context of the passage or the conversation. Repeated miscommunication with coworkers may make it difficult for a victim to hold down a job.
Protecting a victim’s rights at work
If you suffered a blow to the head at work, be sure that you let your supervisor know about the injury and seek medical treatment as soon as possible. In many cases, you may have grounds to pursue a workers’ compensation claim or some other legal action.
The guidance of an experienced attorney helps ensure that you can focus on your recovery while the attorney fights for fair compensation to cover your medical expenses and other losses.