Brain injuries at work are common and can have a devastating impact on an injured worker. Our workers’ compensation attorneys have years of experience representing people who have suffered a brain injury and our workers’ comp lawyers are familiar with the unique aspects of workers’ compensation brain injury cases.
As reported by the CDC, 138 people in the United States die from traumatic brain injuries (TBI) each day. A TBI is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head. A TBI can also be caused by a penetrating injury. Our workers’ compensation lawyers have represented people whose brain injuries were caused by motor vehicle crashes, falls, assaults, blunt trauma and objects striking them from above. In Vermont, we see a high incidence of TBIs in the farming, logging and tree industry as well as motor vehicle accidents that occur during our Vermont winters. Unfortunately, these types of work injuries can happen in just about any job.
The potential effects of a TBI can be short-term or long-term.. According to the CDC, an injury to the brain may cause the following:
– Difficulties with speech
– Difficulties with memory
– Changes in mood and emotions
– Changes in concentration
– Changes in thought processes
– Fatigue
– Social changes
– Changes in behavior
– Headaches
Workers’ compensation cases involving brain injuries can be challenging because the effects may last a lifetime. Vermont workers’ compensation laws require that the workers’ comp insurance carrier pays for medical treatment caused by the work accident; therefore, one of a primary concerns is seeing that our clients receive appropriate medical treatment and that the workers’ compensation carrier pays for that care.
TBI cases present another challenge because the effects of the brain injury may not be obvious at first glance. For instance, how can we prove that our injured worker has experienced a change in mood or personality due to his or her brain injury?
In our years of representing Vermonters who have suffered brain injuries, we have learned that input from friends, family and co-workers can assist us in your workers’ compensation claim. Such people can provide important information not only to your workers’ comp attorney, but also to your doctors and other medical providers. Those close to you can help us understand the ways that your workers’ compensation injury has affected you; often when you may not even be aware of the changes yourself.
A client’s spouse can probably tell us more about that person’s pre-injury and post-injury moods than anyone else can. A friend who plays sports with our client can shed light on his or her pre and post injury motor skills. A co-worker may be able to describe changes to a client’s memory or thought processes.
That’s why we’ve encouraged many of our clients to introduce us to their family, friends and others who can tell us about the changes they have observed since the work injury.
Medical experts, such as neuropsychologists, are another way in which we fight the workers’ compensation carrier’s defenses. A neuropsychologist is a psychologist that specializes in the assessment and treatment of patients with brain injury or disease.
We turn to neuropsychologists to help us understand and quantify the effects of our client’s brain injuries as well as their prognosis. A neuropsychologist can be very important to our client’s mental and physical well-being and can help in understanding our client’s specific condition.
Our Vermont workers’ compensation lawyers understand the unique challenges that a TBI brings and have the knowledge, experience and resources to handle your workers’ compensation claim. If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury at work, please call us for a free consultation.