After a manual laborer suffers an injury, most employers understand both their legal and ethical obligation to give that person time to recover before returning to work. However, for those who suffer injuries that are not easily visible, an employer may become anxious for the worker to return well before the injury fully heals.
This is particularly true when it comes to head injuries. If a worker breaks an arm, then the cast helps alert others that the injury needs more time to heal, but victims of head injuries often seem fully recovered before they truly are. Unfortunately, head injuries can make manual labor jobs very difficult, and may easily ruin a career if the victim does not know how to stand up for other needs during recovery.
If you or someone you love recently suffered a head injury on the job, then you should make time to consult with an experienced attorney who deals with workers’ compensation claims in Belleville and the surrounding area. The people who keep the wheels turning in insurance companies and other organizations you may deal with during recovery are only people like everyone else. An experienced attorney can help you navigate these issues and deal with the people who can really make a difference, ensuring your rights remain protected while you make a strong recovery.
How does a head injury affect a manual laborer?
Most head injuries qualify as mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Moderate and severe head injuries often produce such serious symptoms that it is plain to see that the victim has a very serious medical problem. These injuries may leave a victim in a coma, or may simply kill the victim.
In contrast, mild TBIs are similar to lightly scrambling a person’s brain. Most or all of the moving parts are still functional, but things just don’t work the way they did before the accident. A victim may experience great difficulty concentrating on tasks, even if they are tasks that the victim performed easily before the injury.
These victims often experience great difficulty concentrating on anything for more than minutes at a time, and may grow increasingly irritable. In many cases, those who do not understand the gravity of the injury assume that the victim is just acting out emotionally, and may respond unfairly.
Frequently, these victims experience difficulty understanding what they read or hear someone say. While they may continue to understand the individual meanings of words, victims often misinterpret overall meanings. This usually leads to great difficulty in professional and personal relationships, and may even threaten the victim’s job and marriage.
Get the help that you deserve
After a head injury, victims must receive proper treatment and patiently wait for the injury to heal. If they do not, they risk suffering serious consequences. This may require extra communication with employers, colleagues, and family about the nature of the injury and the length of time that the recovery may take.
Don’t wait to consult with an experienced attorney who understands how to protect your rights in the workplace. With proper legal guidance, you can focus on your recovery and take the time you truly need after a head injury.