There are roughly 3 million traumatic brain injuries reported in the USA according to the CDC and the majority are seeking emergency medical treatment. With proper treatment, TBI patients can make full recoveries and go on to lead a normal and fulfilling life.
If you have suffered from a head/brain injury while on the job, it is recommended to seek legal advice. If that's the route you go, you will want to find someone who is certified as a workers compensation attorney. There are no up front fees if you are pursuing a workers comp claim and all fees are paid out at the end of the settlement. They typical attorney fee is 15% of the case settlement value.
Things to Note about traumatic brain injuries and the workers compensation system.
- Workers compensation claims typically do not move quickly. Depending on the severity of the injuries sustained, a claim can take between 2 and 4 years to completely settle. The case will remain open while your attorney sets medical appointments, builds up a log of all injuries sustained, and works on the case.
- Case settlements drastically vairy by both state, level of permanent disability and overall injuries. The average settlement for a workers compensation claim with a head or central nervous system injury is $93,942.
- Traumatic brain injuries are much more complicated than a typical workers compensation case. It is always recommended when screening attorneys to see if they have experience dealing with these types of cases. When dealing with TBI cases, there are special treatments and doctors you will want your attorney to setup in order to get the best outcomes.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
In short, a TBI is an injury that is directly effecting your brain. Typically these injuries fall under two general categories. Closed brain injuries and penetrating brain injuries.
- A closed brain injury can happen when a worker sustains an injury and there is no direct penetration to the brain. This also includes injuries with no break in the skull. Some of the more common types of closed brain injuries are sports related, vehicle crashes and slip and falls.
- A penetrating brain injury happens when the injured worker sustains a more violent trauma to the brain with at least some type of fracture or break in the skull. Some of the instances include severe auto accidents, forklift injuries, blunt force traumas, assaults, and injuries sustained while working in law enforcement, firefighting, construction and in the oil industry.
Common TBI Symptoms
The brain is the most complicated part of the body and unlike most bodily tissues, it cannot regenerate cells. Therefore, when you sustain a traumatic brain injury it is likely there will be permanent damage that will never fully recover back to a pre-injury state. The brain functions as the center for bodily function and can controls a range of bodily activity both psychologically and physically. Depending the amount of trauma from the injury, effects can be mild to severe. Here is a list of the most common traumatic brain injury symptoms: Vision Problems, Coma, Seizures, Slurred Speech, Sensitivity to Sound or Light, Difficulty Concentrating, Loss of Balance, Anxiety, Headaches, Fatigue, Vomiting/Nausea and Brain Fog.
Early Treatment and Intervention
If you have experienced a traumatic brain injury, it's important to quickly seek medical treatment for the injury. Studies have shown, waiting to treat symptoms of a TBI likely result in a worse outcome for the injured worker. If you have a Traumatic Brain Injury and are looking for an attorney who specializes in this field we can point you in the right direction.
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