The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 2.8 million Americans suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year. Of these 1.7 million individuals, there are nearly 50,000 fatalities and 280,000 hospitalizations. In fact, TBIs are a contributing factor for 30% of all injury-related deaths in the United States. While many people associate TBIs with sports and outdoor activities, a surprising number of these injuries occur in the workplace.
Often, head injuries, such as concussions, result in the most serious non-fatal work injuries in Iowa. The consequences can be permanent. Despite this severity, a large number of concussions and other TBIs go undiagnosed or treated, which can only amplify the ramifications of these injuries.
As worker compensation attorneys in Iowa, Telpner Peterson Law Firm can help you negotiate the pitfalls associated with workplace concussions. These are the most common causes of these injuries and the steps a client should take after suffering any type of head injury at work, even a minor accident.
What Are the Consequences of a Concussion?
Concussions are among the most common head injuries. It is often accompanied by specific symptoms, including a severe headache, feeling nauseous, dizziness or disorientation and feeling sick or vomiting. Other symptoms might be seeing stars or spots in your vision, confusion, unexplained fatigue, and even, feeling anxious. While a medical professional should assess any accident that impacts the head, the presence of these symptoms necessitates immediate medical attention.
At times, a concussion is a precursor or indication of a more substantial brain injury. The symptoms of a concussion might mask a TBI, fracture or other injury that will have long-term consequences. As well, a sever concussion can have lasting consequences all its own. Individuals who suffer one serious concussion or multiple concussions have had permanent brain damage, memory loss and changes to personality. Decision-making ability and controlling impulses are also common effects of a concussion. These potential consequences make diagnosis and treatment essential.
What Causes Concussions in Iowa?
Each year a number of Iowa workers incur large medical bills, require time off work and are otherwise incapacitated by head injuries. These injuries can happen anywhere and under various circumstances, but the most common causes of TBI and more minor brain injury, such as concussion, are falls and motor vehicle accidents. These causes aren’t restricted to a specific industry, which is part of the reason concussions are a concern regardless of your occupation.
Yet, certain industries report more concussions than others year-in and year-out. The construction industry has more traumatic brain injuries and concussions than any other. This is true not just in Iowa, but also across the United States. Construction workers are 2.5 times more likely to die from a brain injury than employees at larger companies and workplaces. The reason the construction industry is prone to head injuries is the presence of heights and heavy equipment.
Falls are one of the most common causes of concussions and brain injuries in Iowa. In particular, falls from ladders, scaffolding and other heights causes a significant number of TBIs and concussions. As well, falls on concrete or other hard surfaces can easily cause a concussion. Other professions with a high number of concussions include professional athletes, firefighters, police officers and delivery drivers.
Contacting a Lawyer
Walter Thomas, an Iowa workers’ compensation lawyer at Telpner Peterson Law Firm, represents clients suffering from a variety of workplace injuries and accidents, among these are concussions and head injuries. Whether you detected a concussion immediately or only after several days, you are still entitled to workers’ compensation for the medical expenses connected to your injury. To learn the steps you should take to file a workers’ compensation claim in Iowa and receive the benefits you deserve, arrange an initial consultation with our office by calling (712) 309-3738 or contacting us digitally via the Telpner Peterson Law firm website.