Head Injuries And Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Head injuries are among the most serious types of injuries you can sustain at work, and some head injuries can result in permanent brain damage and disability. There are many different types of head trauma a worker can suffer on the job, from traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) that include concussions as well as moderate and severe TBIs, or skull fractures and brain bleeds. Research published in the National Library of Medicine, traumatic brain injuries account for approximately 60 percent of all reported workplace head injuries, and these types of injuries tend to result in extensive medical needs and high costs of care. The industries with the highest rate of head injuries are retail and medical services, although TBIs can occur in any job. If you sustained a head injury on the job, you should seek advice from a West Palm Beach workers’ compensation lawyer who can help you with your case.

How Do Head Injuries Happen at Work?

Head injuries can occur in many different kinds of accidents and workplace incidents on job sites, including but not limited to the following:

• Slips and falls;
• Struck-by accidents, including being struck by falling objects such as on a construction site or being struck by a motor vehicle;
• Falls from heights;
• Motor vehicle collisions; and
• Intentional acts of violence in the workplace.

Ways of Preventing Workplace Head Injuries 

It is important for employees to know that there are many steps that their employers can take to help prevent workplace head injuries, such as:

• Assessing concussion and other TBI risk in particular work tasks and putting a protocol in place;
• Ensuring that employees are trained in concussion prevention and concussion protocols;
• Regularly inspecting and maintaining heavy equipment;
• Regularly inspecting and maintaining fall prevention and related safety devices;
• Repairing any flooring hazards, such as torn carpeting or rough floors;
• Cleaning up any liquid spills in the workplace;
• Avoiding placing tripping hazards in employee walkways; and
• Developing a workplace culture in which employees feel comfortable reporting workplace safety issues, including minor ones.

What to Do After a Workplace Head Injury

Under Florida law, anyone who sustains a head injury on the job should report it to the employer within 30 days from the date of the injury and seek medical care from an approved provider. If a workplace accident requires initial emergency treatment, an injured employee does not need to see an approved provider at first, but rather can go to the nearest emergency department for care. From that point forward, the employee should ensure that they are seeing a doctor who has been approved to provide medical care for a workplace injury.

Contact a West Palm Beach Brain Injury Lawyer

If you sustained a brain trauma or other head injury on the job, you should get in touch with one of the experienced West Palm Beach workplace injury attorneys at the Law Offices of David M. Benenfeld, P.A. for assistance with your workers’ compensation claim. Our firm can provide you with more information about the forms of compensation you may be able to receive and can ensure that you take all steps required by Florida workers’ compensation law.

Sources:

cdc.gov/headsup/basics/index.html

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3699059/

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0440/0440ContentsIndex.html