On Behalf of Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa | April 10, 2024 | Personal Injury
An estimated 2.5 million people experience traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, each year, with 80,000 people suffering permanent disabilities as a result.
TBIs can happen in motor vehicle crashes, slips, falls, and in sports activities. But did you know that you can also sustain a TBI while on the job?
Our West Palm Beach workers’ compensation attorneys would like to discuss the types of traumatic brain injuries you may experience at a work site.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A TBI is any bump, blow, or strike to the head that can disrupt brain function. Any employee who works with heavy machinery or works at a height or on unstable surfaces is in danger of suffering from a brain injury.
A TBI can be classified into two broad categories: penetrating or non-penetrating. A penetrating TBI, also known as an open brain injury, is when an object pierces the skull.
This is seen in gunshot wounds, where a bullet pierces the skull. In a motor vehicle crash, debris or shrapnel may ricochet during the crash, breaking through the cranium.
In contrast, a non-penetrating injury, also known as closed brain injury, occurs when there is no break to the skull. In a closed brain injury, a person’s head may hit a stationary object, causing the brain to shake back and forth rapidly.
Focal versus Diffuse Brain injury
Traumatic brain injuries may affect one part of the brain (focal) or can be more widespread, affecting multiple regions (diffuse).
Diffuse Brain Injuries
The most common type of mild TBI, a concussion, is a minimal-impact injury. A concussion can be triggered by any blow to the head. Since there is usually no break in the skull, a concussion is a closed brain injury.
Road crew workers may get concussions if they are struck by heavy machinery at a work site. That is why it is so important to wear a hard hat at a work site.
While loss of consciousness can present, almost 90% of those who sustain a concussion do not lose consciousness. A concussion may be accompanied by fatigue, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and vision problems.
Cerebral Edema
If you have a job where you have to be on ladders or scaffolding, you are at a higher risk of suffering cerebral edema if you do not take proper precautions.
Cerebral edema is a swelling of brain tissue that is caused by an increase in water content in our brain cells. The swelling can be caused by the initial injury or the body’s response to the initial edema. There is limited space between the brain and the skull, so any swelling can prevent blood flow to the brain, which can quickly become dangerous.
Cerebral edema can be caused by a closed or open brain injury. Symptoms of cerebral edema often include headaches, vomiting, and seizures.
Focal Brain Injuries
A focal brain injury can affect specific lobes of the brain. Below, we describe conditions that affect the frontal and temporal lobes.
Frontal Lobe
The frontal lobe is located just behind the forehead. It controls thinking, planning, and problem-solving. If you suffer damage to Broca’s area (the brain’s language center), you may have trouble communicating. This condition, known as Broca’s aphasia, may cause you to have trouble forming complete sentences and even the inability to repeat what others have said.
Occipital Lobe
Located at the back of the brain, the occipital lobe is responsible for visual perception. If you suffer damage to the occipital lobe, you may develop a sensory perception disorder, such as Alice in Wonderland syndrome. This disease is characterized by visual distortions.
Symptoms include seeing things smaller or larger than they actually are, seeing objects moving unusually slow or fast, and potentially experiencing visual hallucinations.
Contact a West Palm Beach Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today
A workplace accident can take you by surprise. That is where we can help. At Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa, our West Palm Beach workers’ compensation lawyers are available to help you financially during this tough time. To learn more, contact us online or by phone to schedule your free consultation today.
Gerald A. Rosenthal
Retired
Since opening the firm now known as Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa more than 40 years ago, Gerald A. Rosenthal has been a dedicated champion of the everyday hero – police officers, firefighters, teachers, nurses, construction workers, farm workers, and more. Passionate about preserving the civil rights of laborers, he has fought tirelessly against giant insurance companies who deny the injured workers their benefits. It’s not just the lawsuit Rosenthal fights to win – he is driven by the opportunity to restore his client’s quality of life.
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