Head Injury at Work Compensation | Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks

What to Do If You’ve Suffered a Head Injury at Work

Suffering a head injury on the job can be frightening. If the injury is severe, you may not have the capacity to understand what is happening to you. At Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A., we want to help you understand your legal rights and make seeking the workers’ compensation benefits you need easier.

Here’s what to do immediately after suffering a work-related head injury:

Seek medical treatment immediately – See a doctor immediately after a head injury, even if you initially feel fine. The symptoms of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) may not manifest directly after an accident. It can take hours or even days to feel the effects. In that time, the injury can cause significant damage to brain tissue, blood vessels, and nerves in the head. Be sure to inform your healthcare provider that your head injury is related to a workplace accident.

Report the accident to your employer – Work injuries must be reported to a manager or supervisor as soon as possible. To seek workers’ compensation insurance benefits, you must report the incident, and your employer must file the appropriate paperwork with their insurance carrier. This process can’t happen if you don’t promptly report the incident. Failing to report the accident can cause significant delays and jeopardize your ability to seek workers’ compensation benefits for your medical expenses and lost wages.

Provide written notice – Within 30 days of the incident, you should give your employer written notice of the accident by the filing of a Form 18.

Follow your doctor’s orders – Medical records are essential to your workers’ compensation claim. Always follow your doctor’s treatment instructions, attend all follow-up appointments, and take medications as prescribed. Not following your medical provider’s instructions can impact your workers’ compensation benefits, giving your employer or the insurance company room to dispute or deny your claim.

Contact a workers’ compensation attorney – Filing a workers’ compensation claim with a significant head injury can be confusing. Protect your legal rights by contacting an experienced North Carolina workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible.

What Are My Options for Compensation for a Work-Related Head Injury?

Head injuries can lead to severe physical and cognitive disabilities as well as financial hardships. Trying to obtain the compensation you deserve can feel overwhelming. What are your options, and where do you start?

A North Carolina workers’ compensation lawyer is your best resource. An attorney can review your unique situation and explain your options for recovering the compensation you need to rebuild your life and stabilize your financial situation.

First, you may be eligible to apply for North Carolina workers’ compensation benefits. Almost all employers in North Carolina with more than three employees must carry workers’ compensation insurance.

Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance program that helps cover an injured employee’s medical expenses and a portion of their lost wages if they suffer work-related injuries.

You may also have other legal options for pursuing compensation after a workplace accident. The workers’ compensation program prevents you from filing a lawsuit against your employer. However, you could have a valid personal injury claim if the careless actions of a third party resulted in your head injury.

Examples of parties that could be liable for brain injuries at work include:

A property owner
General contractors
Subcontractors
Equipment manufacturers
Parts manufacturers

A knowledgeable North Carolina workers’ compensation attorney can determine whether you have a case against someone other than your employer and explain your options for seeking compensation. This is a crucial step. If you have a valid third-party claim, you could be entitled to additional money you can’t get through workers’ compensation, such as pain and suffering and the full value of your lost wages.

Damages Available After Sustaining a Head Injury at Work

One of the first questions injured workers ask is how much the average payout for a work-related head injury is. There’s no definite answer. The severity of head injuries varies significantly from case to case. The cause of the accident, the nature of the brain injury, and its long-term effects can all affect the value of your claim. Workers’ compensation benefits typically cover your work-related medical expenses and a portion of your lost wages as you recover.

Other disability benefits are also possible. Let’s say your head injury results in some degree of permanent physical or mental impairment. You may also be eligible to receive permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits through the workers’ compensation system. Benefits may also be available to employees who suffer head injuries that cause permanent injuries that prevent them from returning to the workforce altogether. An attorney can evaluate your situation and help identify which workers’ compensation benefits you may qualify for.

In circumstances where your attorney attempts to seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit against a third party, you may seek money for the following:

Medical expenses
Lost wages
Loss of earning capacity
Pain and suffering

An experienced personal injury attorney will calculate your accident-related losses to place an appropriate value on your case and fight for maximum compensation for your head or brain injury.

Severe Head Injuries Commonly Suffered by Workers

Workplace incidents can cause severe injuries and long-term medical complications. Some of the severe head injuries commonly suffered by North Carolina workers include:

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
Concussion
Skull fractures
Intracranial hemorrhage
Cerebral edema
Lacerations to the head
Chemical burns
Thermal burns

Even minor head injuries can turn into a life-threatening medical disaster. Report the incident and seek medical attention immediately after you hit your head on the job.

What Are the Common Causes of Workplace Head Injury?

Leading causes of job-related head injuries include:

Falls from heights
Being struck by falling objects
Tripping
Defective equipment
Workplace violence

You can protect yourself from head injuries by using proper safety equipment, following all workplace safety procedures, and helping your employer ensure all equipment and vehicles are in good shape.

What Occupations Have the Highest Risk for Head Injury?

A head injury can happen in any job environment. However, they are more prevalent in some industries than others. Occupations with the highest risk for head injuries include:

Construction workers
Roofers
Delivery drivers
Warehouse workers
Manufacturing workers
Loggers
First responders
Firefighters

No matter what field you are in, you deserve legal support to maximize your workers’ compensation benefits after a head injury. Talk to an attorney as soon as possible for help pursuing the money you need.

Contact Our Workers Compensation Attorneys in Raleigh, NC

A head injury can change your life in profound and unexpected ways. Don’t settle for less compensation or fewer benefits than you deserve. Let our experienced Raleigh workers’ compensation attorneys evaluate your situation and help you pursue full and fair compensation for your injuries.

At Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A., we’ll work to help you obtain a workers’ compensation head injury settlement that covers your financial losses. Attorneys Joseph Baznik and Ross Weatherspoon are fluent in Spanish and provide clear and compassionate support to Spanish-speaking workers.

Head Injury at Work Compensation in Raleigh, NC