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Workplace accidents put employees at risk of traumatic brain injuries

Employees who have received a traumatic brain injury from a worksite accident may be entitled to workers’ compensation depending on the details of the incident.

Many people who are employed in various industries in Minnesota and across the country run the risk of receiving a traumatic brain injury while working on-the-job. In fact, brain injuries are one of the most common types of workplace injuries that occur in the U.S. Over 40 percent of TBI incidents are caused by falls, and another 15 percent of cases happen when people are struck by an object, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. TBIs contribute to approximately 30 percent of all injury fatalities across the country each year.

Whether a worker gets a mild concussion or suffers from severe traumatic brain damage as a result of a workplace accident, the injuries can have long-term effects. In some cases, workers with traumatic brain injuries may not be able to return to work and might have to make permanent lifestyle changes to adapt to living with the disability.

What is traumatic brain injury?

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, any type of forceful impact to the head can cause a person’s brain to smack against the inner skull bone. This trauma may result in brain bruising, bleeding and inflammation. Depending on the severity of the impact and which part of the brain is damaged, the person may or may not display immediate signs that an injury has occurred. The symptoms of TBI may take several days to appear. Mild forms of TBI can cause headaches, dizziness, trouble concentrating, nausea and vomiting, which may be misinterpreted as a minor issue. In moderate to severe cases of TBI, the accident victim may experience seizures, convulsions, tingling in the muscles, decreased coordination and sensory problems.

Traumatic brain injuries and work

Workers who suffer from traumatic brain injury may be able to return to work and perform well at the position they had prior to the injury. There are a number of people, however, that must wait for an extended period of time before returning to work, or do not come back to work at all. Brain trauma can affect a worker’s ability to reason, make decisions, sequence, concentrate and perform cognitive tasks, according to BrainLine.org. People with brain injuries may also suffer from depression, anxiety and other types of emotional trauma.

Recovering from a brain injury

Victims of traumatic brain injury may be eligible for workers’ compensation depending on the circumstances surrounding their case. It may be helpful to partner with a workers’ compensation attorney in Minnesota who understands how to handle these types of claims.