Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are one of the leading causes of death and disabilities in the workplace. These injuries can be classified as mild, moderate or severe.
If you sustain an injury to the brain while at work or while advancing your employer’s cause, you may be eligible for financial restitution through the workers’ comp program. But first, how do these injuries happen?
Understanding the major causes of TBIs at work
While most employers take steps to ensure workplace safety, injuries still happen. Here are some of the leading causes of TBIs at work:
- Trips, slips and falls – Workplaces like warehouses, restaurants and construction sites are often characterized by spills, loose cables and clutter. Depending on how hard you land your head on a surface (or a sharp object), the resulting brain injury can be traumatic.
- Falling objects – precariously placed tools or objects on high spots can fall on a worker underneath. If a construction worker, for instance, is struck by a flying object, they may sustain a serious head injury.
- Fall from heights – these are not uncommon at construction sites. If a worker falls off a faulty ladder, scaffold or roof, they may sustain a variety of injuries including an injury to the brain.
Depending on the severity of the injury, you may experience a number of symptoms following the injury. These may include loss of consciousness, nausea and vomiting, persistent migraines, ringing ears, fatigue and loss of balance.
So, what should you do if you sustain a brain injury at work?
The steps you take immediately following your injury are critical to the outcome of your case.
First, it is important that you seek treatment as soon as possible. This will ensure that you receive the treatment you need to get back on your feet. It will also ensure that your injuries are properly documented for the purposes of pursuing your workers’ comp benefits.
Next, you need to report your injury to your employer per Florida workers’ compensation laws. And finally, you need to file your workers’ comp claim in time.