Individuals working on a building or bridge is a common sight; however, few of us stop to consider the dangers of such work. How vulnerable are construction workers to potentially fatal injuries, such as a traumatic brain injury?
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is a blunt force injury to the brain. These types of brain injuries can range from mild to fatal; however, 70% of traumatic brain injuries are mild. Mild traumatic brain injuries are often ignored or overlooked because they share some of the common symptoms of concussions, which are less serious.
Symptoms of TBI
Common symptoms of traumatic brain injuries may include:
- Loss of consciousness
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Speech impairment
- Sleep disruption
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Other symptoms
These symptoms can have a lasting effect on an individual’s health and relationships, as well as their livelihood.
How Common is TBI?
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 1.7 million Americans suffer a traumatic brain injury every year. Many of these occur while on the job.
Risk of TBI to Construction Workers
Construction workers are especially at risk for traumatic brain injury by falls, falling objects, malfunctioning equipment, negligence, and other causes. The CDC reports that workers whose employers have less than 20 employees were 2.5 times more likely to suffer a fatal TBI. Further, roofers and ironworkers have the highest rate of traumatic brain injury-related deaths.
Seek Help
If you have hit your head while on the job, see a medical professional as soon as possible to ascertain whether you have suffered a traumatic brain injury and require treatment. The sooner you get your symptoms evaluated and treated the better.
If you suspect the injury was due to someone’s negligence, consult a lawyer with experience handling traumatic brain injury cases. These cases are complex. You only have one brain. Get experience on your side. The Law Firm of Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., Injury & Accident Lawyers has been helping injury victims in Houston since 1979 including many TBI injury victims.
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