Construction workers are at risk of a host of injuries. One of those injuries is a brain injury. These injuries are troubling because the brain is the command center for the body. This means that brain injuries can impact every aspect of your life. If you suffer a brain injury at work or have a loved one who did, you need to know these six points.
#1: Brain injuries don’t have to involve a hit to the head
While many brain injuries do involve a blow to the head, that isn’t a requirement. You can suffer a brain injury if your brain is violently shaken. One of the best-known forms of this type of injury is shaken baby syndrome. In adults, a brain injury might be due to violent shaking that comes in a multi-vehicle accident or a fall in which the person is able to keep one’s head from hitting the ground.
#2: Brain injuries can be closed or open
A closed brain injury is one that doesn’t break the skin. An open brain injury is one that involves the skin being broken. Both types of brain injuries have specific risks. Pressure building on the brain is more likely in a closed brain injury. Infection is more likely in an open brain injury.
#3: Symptoms of a brain injury might not show up right away
A person who has a brain injury might not know it right away. The symptoms can take days or weeks to show up. If you or a loved one is involved in an accident, pay close attention to how you feel. Headaches, blurred vision, dizziness, vomiting, ringing in the ears, loss of consciousness, trouble remembering things and problems concentrating are all signs of a brain injury.
#4: Brain injuries can have a cumulative effect
The effects of brain injuries are cumulative. People who have more than one brain injury are more likely to suffer complications related to those multiple injuries. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is one example of a condition caused by multiple brain injuries. In this case, behavioral changes might signal the condition but it can’t be diagnosed until after death.
#5: Treatments for brain injuries can be extensive
The treatments for brain injuries vary greatly. Medications might be necessary for pain, infection control and help controlling swelling. Other treatments might include surgery or therapy. Treatment plans are based on the patient’s needs, condition and symptoms.
#6: The prognosis varies greatly
The prognosis of the brain injury can range from a complete recovery to death. The location and extent of the injury, the available treatments and other factors can all impact the patient’s prognosis. The prognosis has an impact on how the victim might opt to pursue claims for compensation through the workers’ compensation program or third-party liability lawsuits.
Source: Nov. 30, -0001
