Brain Injury

Brain injuries can be painful, debilitating, and fatal. With side effects like loss of cognitive function, sensory changes, and seizures, victims may experience a reduced quality of life. Whether your injury is minor or severe, you have a right to medical care through workers’ compensation, followed by ongoing treatments and therapy. 

Learn more about the causes and common types of brain injuries and how our lawyers can help maximize your recovery.

Understanding Brain Injuries

Brain injuries often occur at construction sites, but they can happen anywhere with hazardous substances, heavy machinery, or risk of accidents.

Common brain injuries include: 

• Concussion. Concussions, one of the most common head injuries, can range in severity. Sudden blows or acceleration and deceleration of the head can cause concussions.
• Chemical Exposure. Inhaling or absorbing toxic substances may damage the central nervous system, impairing certain daily functions.
• Hypoxia or Anoxia. Hypoxia or anoxia is caused by oxygen deprivation in the brain, like near-drowning incidents or inhaling harmful substances.
• Vibration-Induced Brain Injuries. Heavy machinery operators and construction workers may experience injury after years of high vibration levels from equipment.
• Penetrating Head Injuries. Flying debris and sharp objects can penetrate the skull and enter the brain, causing irreversible damage. Penetrating head injuries are very visible and invasive. 
• Closed Head Injuries. Sometimes, damage is invisible from the outside, like with closed head injuries. Closed head injuries happen after sudden acceleration and deceleration, falls, accidents, or falling objects. 
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Sudden blows, head movement, or penetrating head injuries can disrupt brain functions and cause traumatic brain injuries. Usually, falls, falling objects and motor vehicle accidents are the cause.

Causes of Brain Injuries

There are several causes for brain injuries in the workplace, including:

• Falls
• Falling objects
• Electrical accidents
• Struck-by incidents
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Construction site and industrial accidents
• Explosions and blasts
• Confined spaces
• Chemical exposure
• Repeated or prolonged head trauma

Implications of Brain Injuries

Brain injuries can cause several side effects, including:

• Reduced Quality of Life. Head injuries cause temporary and permanent physical, emotional, and cognitive damages that impair the overall quality of life. Victims may struggle to work, socialize, and take care of themselves.
• Headaches and Blurred Vision. One of the most common side effects of head injuries is severe and persistent headaches that worsen with exposure to light and sound. Vision problems, like blurred or double vision, often accompany headaches.
• Dizziness, Difficulty Balancing, and Sensory Changes. After a head injury, some people experience trouble balancing or standing, intense dizziness, and sensory changes like numbness or tingling. 
• Impaired Cognition. Brain injuries can impair cognitive functions like attention, memory, concentration, focus, and problem-solving. Tasks requiring mental focus are much more difficult after a brain injury.
• Fatigue and Sleep Disturbances. Many head injury victims get fatigued quickly, and they struggle to fall asleep and stay asleep. 
• Seizures. Seizures, or episodes of abnormal electrical brain activity, sometimes occur after a brain injury. Seizures can make driving, socializing, and completing normal functions challenging.
• Emotional and Behavioral Challenges. Mood swings, depression, irritability, and anxiety can increase due to interrupted emotional and behavioral regulation.
• Speech and Communication Issues. Some people struggle to speak and communicate normally after a head injury. They experience slurred speech, delayed language recall, or comprehension and expression challenges.
• Impaired Motor Skills. Tasks that require precise movements can be difficult after a head injury because of damaged motor skills. Poor motor skills make completing daily and work functions uncomfortable or impossible.
• Death. Because the brain is critical to every bodily function, severe injuries can cause permanent disability and even death. 

Recovery for Brain Injuries

Recovery from brain injuries ranges depending on severity, accountable parties, and complications. An experienced lawyer can help you maximize compensation.

Damages awarded typically include:

• Past and future medical costs
• Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
• Rehabilitation expenses
• Ongoing pain and suffering

Who is Responsible for Brain Injuries?

Preventing workplace injuries involves a combination of safety measures, training, and adherence to regulations. Employers should conduct risk assessments, implement safety protocols, and provide appropriate training to reduce the risk of incidents in the workplace. Employers can be held responsible for workplace injuries if they do not take these steps to protect employees.

When worksite injuries result from negligence, such as violating an OSHA safety standard, seeking legal help is vital to hold them responsible. 

If no one is responsible, you can still recover damages from workers’ compensation.

How We Can Help

If you or a loved one has suffered from a work-related brain injury, Golitko & Daly can help. Our experienced lawyers fight for the compensation you deserve and hold the responsible parties accountable.

To schedule a free consultation, call us at 317-566-9600 (Indianapolis), 765-865-9300 (Bloomington), or 812-566-2600 (Kokomo), or complete our online inquiry form to schedule an appointment* with one of our work injury attorneys who will review your case.