Without a doubt, head injuries can be extremely debilitating; they may even result in long-term cognitive and neurological issues or death. They are difficult to deal with as brain injuries, referred to as traumatic brain injury (TBI), can affect daily life for those suffering from the symptoms. Some may never recover from their South Jersey workplace head injuries, some may be able to handle minor symptoms, and some may not be able to live the life they once led before sustaining a TBI.
Roughly 12 to 15,000 New Jersey residents sustain a brain injury each year, with 1,000 being fatal. Approximately 175,000 people are living with a TBI in the Graden State. The majority of TBIs affect those under the age of 35, with brain injury rates soaring after age 65 as a result of falling.
In New Jersey, falls at construction sites are a major reason for sustaining a TBI, which makes sense since steel and iron workers, roofers, and other laborers who work on scaffolding are at a very high risk of falling from heights. Many lose their lives on the job.
Common Causes of Work-Related Injuries
The most common causes of injuries sustained at work are:
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Overexertion
- Coming into contact with equipment and objects
- Being hit in the head with an object
- Car or truck accidents
- Motorcycle or bicycle accidents
In any of those situations, there is a high risk of acquiring a TBI, and they are the most common causes of concussions.
What Constitutes A Head Injury?
Head injuries may range from bumps and contusions to cuts or can present as concussions, deep open wounds, a fractured skull, and/or internal brain bleeding. These types of head injuries are the most common cause of death and disability in adults.
When a brain injury is being diagnosed or discussed, the term can relate to a dizzying spectrum of injuries to the skull, scalp, brain, and blood vessels and tissues in the head. Roughly 1.7 million Americans sustain a TBI every year at an annual cost of approximately 456 billion per annum.
Different Types of South Jersey Work Head Injuries
The following are some of the different types of head injuries that may occur at work:
- Concussions – these come in many forms and may result in instantly losing consciousness for a short period or a few hours.
- Fractured skull – as the term fractured implies, this is a break in the skull bone. Four major fractures include a somewhat common linear skull fracture where the bone is broken, but it does not move. While they may require hospital rest, there are often no interventions required.
- Depressed skull fractures – that may or may not have a scalp cut. The fracture is sunk inward and may need surgery to correct.
- Basilar skull fracture – the most serious fracture that involves a break in the bone at the base of the skull. This type of fracture typically requires close observation in the hospital. Survivors may have clear fluid draining from their ears or nose as a result of a tear in the brain’s cover.
- Intracranial hematoma – more commonly called blood clots in or around the brain. Their location in the brain earns them different classifications. These injuries are quite serious and potentially life-threatening.
- Epidural hematomas – form under the skull, on top of the dura.
- Subdural hematomas – form under the skull and under the dura but exterior to the brain.
- Intracerebral hematoma – this is a brain bruise that results in swelling and bleeding inside the brain.
- Diffuse axonal injury – usually the result of shaking the brain back and forth in a fall or car crash. It can be mild to severe, with the patient in a coma for a long period.
Many workplaces in New Jersey, particularly construction and building sites, are more dangerous than others. Those who work in medical facilities, warehouses, restaurants, and factories have a higher chance of suffering a serious or fatal injury on the job.
Some of the most common types of workplace injuries sustained at work in South Jersey in Collingswood, Atlantic City, and Cherry Hill involve the following risks:
- Falling objects
- Equipment malfunctioning
- Overexertion
- Falls
- Burns
- Electrocution
- Slipping and tripping
Symptoms of a South Jersey Work Head Injury
Each South Jersey work head injury is unique to the person involved, and the symptoms may vary widely. However, there are some common symptoms of a head injury.
With a mild head injury, a South Jersey worker may experience:
- A raised, swollen bruise or bump
- Shallow scalp cut
- Headache
- Light and noise sensitivity
- Confusion and irritation
- Dizzyness
- Nausea
- Trouble concentrating and memory issues
- Blurred vision and tired eyes
- Interrupted sleep patterns
- Tinnitus
- Fatigue
With a moderate to severe head injury, a South Jersey worker may experience:
- Loss of consciousness
- Unrelenting severe headache
- Vomiting and nausea
- Intracranial pressure
- Irregular pupil sizes
- Convulsions or seizures
- Short-term memory loss
- Slurring
- Sweating
- Difficulty walking
- Scalp cuts or lacerations
- Object penetrating the head
- Coma
- Locked in syndrome
- Open head wound
- Vegetative state
Diagnosing a South Jersey Work Head Injury
Testing for a South Jersey work head injury may include:
- Blood tests
- X-rays
- CT scan
- EEG
- MRI
Testing is the first step in treating a South Jersey work head injury. Every case is different. Every treatment is different. It depends on the severity of the injury, the age of the survivor, their existing medical history, how bad the injury is, what type of injury was sustained, tolerance for the treatment protocol, and whether surgery is required or stitches needed.
Head Injury Workers’Compensation Claim or Third Party Lawsuit
Those who work in South Jersey are aware that if they are injured while at work and are covered by workers’ compensation, they cannot sue their employer. They give up that right when they receive workers’ compensation coverage. However, some incidents may happen at work that are the result of a third party’s negligence. If this is the case, you may file a lawsuit to recover compensation for your injuries. There are situations where there may also be more than one third-party claim.
A third-party claim could involve defective or poorly manufactured equipment or the machinery being used was not installed properly. If an accident happens because of the negligence of another person or entity, you may file a third-party lawsuit. At Petrillo & Goldberg Law, we can walk you through that process and fully explain your legal rights. We do right by you.
Contact Petrillo & Goldberg Law
For serious South Jersey head injuries sustained at work, contact our workers’ compensation attorneys at Petrillo & Goldberg Law. Workers’ compensation laws protect workers and job providers against occupational injuries and illnesses.
When a worker sustains injuries, workers’ compensation insurance pays the costs, up to policy limits and based on New Jersey state laws. Workers’ compensation insurance also protects employers against lawsuits from workplace accidents. We’re here to help you with your workers’ compensation claim.
