Serious brain injuries are on the rise in work accidents and across Ohio. According to a recent study, 1 out of 4 Ohio adults experience at least one traumatic brain injury in their lifetime. Given the devastating consequences and significant costs linked to work-related TBIs, it's important to spread public awareness regarding the risks, symptoms, and available resources for financial relief.
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, and the Ohio workers' compensation lawyers at Hochman & Plunkett Co., L.P.A. are participating by sharing essential information about workplace TBIs. We want to help prevention efforts and ensure employees everywhere in the state understand their right to work injury compensation.
How do head and brain injuries happen at work?
While most traumatic brain injuries occur due to blunt force trauma, the workplace presents various scenarios where such injuries can happen:
- Work-related motor vehicle accidents: Employees who drive as part of their job duties, such as truck drivers, delivery personnel, or transportation workers, are at risk of TBIs in motor vehicle accidents on the job.
- Falls: Slip, trip, and fall accidents are common in many work environments, including construction sites, warehouses, and office buildings. Falls from heights, uneven surfaces, or slippery floors can result in head injuries.
- Struck by or against objects or equipment: Employees working with heavy machinery, tools, or equipment are susceptible to being struck by falling objects or colliding with equipment, which can lead to head injuries.
- Workplace violence: Acts of workplace violence, including physical altercations or assaults, can result in head trauma for employees.
- Falling objects: In industries where objects are stored or stacked at heights, such as construction or warehousing, falling objects pose a significant risk of head injuries to workers below.
Types of work-related brain injuries
TBI injuries can vary in severity and may require different treatment approaches based on the specific circumstances of the injury. Some common occupational TBIs include in Ohio:
- Concussions: Mild traumatic brain injuries often resulting from sudden impacts or jolts to the head, causing temporary loss of consciousness or altered mental state.
- Brain hemorrhages or hematoma: Bleeding within the brain or the space between the brain and the skull, which can lead to increased pressure on the brain and neurological symptoms.
- Nerve damage: Trauma to the head or brain can cause damage to nerves, resulting in sensory or motor impairments.
- Punctures: Penetrating injuries to the skull or brain caused by sharp objects or projectiles.
- Coup-countercoup injuries: Occur when the brain impacts the skull on one side and rebounds to strike the opposite side, leading to injury at both impact sites.
- Diffuse Axonal Injuries: Result from rapid acceleration or deceleration forces, causing widespread damage to nerve fibers in the brain.
- Blast-related damage: Employees working in environments where explosions or blasts are a risk, such as industrial workers, may sustain TBIs from blast-related trauma.
TBI signs and symptoms
Traumatic brain injuries are a prevalent type of workplace injury, accounting for up to 25 percent of job-related trauma, often resulting in permanent damage. TBI disabilities affecting physical, cognitive, and psychosocial skills may persist for months or even years, but early medical intervention can help mitigate the damage.
Recognizing the signs of TBI is crucial, as prompt treatment can potentially save lives. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), workers should seek emergency medical attention if they experience symptoms such as persistent headaches, weakness, numbness, decreased coordination, convulsions, vomiting, slurred speech, unequal pupil sizes, confusion, agitation, or loss of consciousness.
Occupations at high risk for TBI
From a paid intern to the CEO, any employee can suffer a serious accident leading to TBI in the workplace. However, some work environments are more dangerous than others. Employees with the greatest risk for TBI include:
- Construction workers
- Professional drivers, including transportation and freight trucking
- Military, law enforcement, and other emergency responders
- Miners and loggers
- Warehouse workers
- Pro athletes
- Machinists and agricultural workers
- Restaurant workers
Our attorneys fight for injured workers in Ohio
Work-related TBIs can profoundly impact injured workers and their loved ones, but help is often available. If you suffered a head or brain injury at work in Ohio, you may be entitled to workers' compensation benefits and other types of financial support. In addition to workman's comp, employees injured due to another's negligence may be eligible to file a third-party personal injury lawsuit. The key is to act fast so you don't miss important legal deadlines.
At Hochman & Plunkett, our dedicated legal team can help you find your way forward after a work-related brain injury. Contact us today for a free case consultation. We have offices throughout Ohio, including Dayton, Cincinnati, Springfield, Troy, and Columbus.