Construction Workers are at High Risk for Traumatic Brain Injuries
Construction work consistently ranks among the most dangerous types of employment in the country, and if you’ve ever visited a construction site, it’s easy to see why. The hazards present at construction sites put construction workers at a significant risk of serious injury every day, including the risk of a traumatic brain injury, or TBI.TBIs can leave victims with debilitating symptoms that can last for weeks or months and may even result in long-term disabilities. Thankfully, injured construction workers are typically entitled to benefits through Missouri’s workers’ compensation program, regardless of the cause of the accident.
What Causes Traumatic Brain Injuries at Construction Sites?
Traumatic brain injuries are typically caused by a bump or blow to the head or accidents that cause the brain to rattle around within the skull. Some of the construction site hazards that often cause traumatic brain injuries among workers include:
- Falls from heights
- Explosions
- Falling objects
- Struck by/against events
- Accidents involving power tools
- Vehicle accidents
- Heavy machinery accidents
- Caught-between events
Traumatic Brain Injuries Can Cause Significant Complications
Traumatic brain injuries - and even mild ones - can leave injured workers with significant complications that can affect their ability to work and perform everyday tasks. In fact, in the most severe TBI cases, victims may develop disabilities that prevent them from being able to live with around-the-clock care. Some of the more common complications associated with traumatic brain injuries include:
- Headaches
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Dizziness
- Depression
- Difficulty concentrating
- Problems regulating emotion
- Slurred speech
- Issues with problem solving
Injured Construction Workers’ Should Retain an Attorney
Missouri’s workers’ compensation program entitles injured workers to benefits for work-related injuries or illnesses, regardless of fault. These benefits include:
- Lost income
- Medical expenses
- Temporary disability
- Permanent disability
While workers are legally entitled to these benefits, it’s vital to understand that workers’ compensation insurers make money by minimizing benefits and denying claims whenever possible. For this reason, as an injured construction worker, it’s in your best interest to retain an attorney even before you start your workers’ compensation claim. Your lawyer will review your case and make sure that the paperwork associated with your workers’ compensation claim is accurate and complete, maximizing the chances that you will obtain all of the benefits to which you are entitled as quickly as possible. In addition, should the insurance company deny your claim or try and skimp on your benefits, your lawyer will be standing by ready to file an appeal to ensure that you get the benefits to which you are entitled under the law.
Call Us Today to Speak to a Missouri Workers’ Compensation Attorney
If you have sustained a TBI or other serious injury while working at a construction site, you should call The Law Firm of Webster & Carlton as soon as you can. Our experienced workers’ compensation lawyers know how to get injured workers the benefits to which they are entitled under Missouri law. To schedule a free case evaluation with an attorney, contact us online or call our office today at (417) 545-3775 (Springfield) and (417) 545-3775 (Joplin).