Riverside Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer
Helping California Workers Get the Compensation They are Owed After Serious Workplace Injuries
Traumatic brain injury is one of the most common work-related injuries, resulting from any number of workplace accidents. Traumatic brain injury can also be extremely painful, debilitating, and dangerous.
If you’ve suffered a TBI in a California workplace, the traumatic brain injury workers’ comp legal team at Ochoa & Calderón is ready to fight for your rights. We’ll get you the workers’ compensation benefits and other damages you are owed so that you can focus on your medical treatments and recovery.
What is Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) refers to brain injury caused by a “traumatic” event–meaning a sudden impact to the head. TBI can be caused by a blow to the head, the head striking the ground or another object, the head being penetrated by a sharp object, or by the head being violently shaken about. When the head is struck, the brain can be sent rattling about the skull, causing various types of soft tissue injury. A sharp object such as a knife or a piece of skull penetrating the brain can also cause traumatic brain injury.
TBIs range from mild to severe. A mild TBI, also called a concussion, can cause temporary discomfort and noticeable symptoms. Repeated TBIs, even if mild, can lead to long-term or permanent damage. More severe TBIs can have debilitating consequences and may ultimately prove fatal.
Workers Experience Millions of TBIs Every Year
TBI is one of the most common injuries in the workplace nationwide. TBIs can result from any number of workplace accidents, including slip and falls, vehicle accidents, falls from height, and being struck by a falling object.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there are roughly 2.5 million emergency room visits for TBI every year across the country. Around 250,000 people are hospitalized due to TBI, and more than 64,000 people die from TBIs nationwide each year.
Many of these injuries happen at work. The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) estimates that TBIs account for around 5% of medical payments on lost time workers’ comp claims, 15% of total disability claims, and 17% of “mega” claims (claims in the millions of dollars). According to some studies, 24% of all TBIs happen in the workplace.
Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury can be hard to identify at first because many of the symptoms are internal and subjective; other people might not know the victim is injured, and the victim might not even recognize the symptoms themselves. TBI symptoms may take hours or even days to manifest after a traumatic incident.
If you suffer any sort of blow to the head and notice any possible symptoms of TBI, report the incident to your supervisor and see a doctor immediately. If left undiagnosed and untreated, your brain injury can quickly become much more serious. Talk to a seasoned workplace TBI lawyer for help getting medical care and workers’ comp coverage.
Mild TBIs (concussions) may be characterized by:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Fatigue or drowsiness
- Brief loss of consciousness
- Blurry vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Memory problems
- Sleep issues
- Mood changes, including anxiety or depression
More severe TBIs carry the same symptoms, but they are more pronounced and longer-lasting. Additionally, more severe TBI may present symptoms including:
- Persistent or worsening headache
- Repeated vomiting
- Convulsions or seizures
- Unable to wake
- Weakness or numbness in the extremities
- Loss of coordination
- Severe mood swings or changes
- Severe confusion, agitation, and other mental problems
- Coma
- Death
Our Riverside Traumatic Brain Injury Attorneys Are Ready to Help You Recover the Benefits You Are Due
For help getting workers’ comp benefits and other damages after a traumatic brain injury or other workplace accident, call Ochoa & Calderón to discuss your case with a diligent and thorough California workers’ comp lawyer. Call 951-901-4444 in Riverside or 844-401-0750 toll-free throughout Southern California.
