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Common Types of Work-Related Head Injuries
Head injuries are among the many types of injuries frequently sustained on the job, and they are potentially among the most serious. Head injuries, whether to various areas of the head, brain, or face, can result immediately from accidents or develop over time due to repeated trauma. Head injuries can potentially affect the worker’s ability to function in his or her daily life.
Some of the many types of head injuries that workers can sustain include:
- Injuries to the outside of the head due to trauma
- Brain injuries due to immediate or repeated trauma causing concussions and more extreme damage
- Facial injuries causing damage to the eyes resulting in partial or complete vision loss, or other damage to the nose, mouth, or any other part of the face
How Work-Related Head Injuries Occur
There are many potential causes of head injuries in the workplace. Some injuries can result immediately following an accident due to impact with certain equipment or employee/employer negligence or malicious intent, while other types of injuries can take a longer period of time to develop due to repeat trauma. In the case of brain injuries and concussions, symptoms may be delayed and not appear until well after an accident takes place in many cases. Traffic accidents are also common causes of head injuries, which can occur when an employee is using a company or personal vehicle to perform a work-related task.
Regardless of the extent of the injury, you may be able to seek workers’ compensation for any type of head injury.
Treatment for Head Injuries
Treatment for head injuries can include medications or other medical aids for minor superficial head injuries, while concussions, vision loss, and other more severe injuries could require proper diagnoses followed by more extensive treatment and recovery, including surgical procedures and rehabilitation. Head injuries can be especially emotionally traumatic for victims, often requiring the help of a social worker or therapist to deal with the pain and suffering resulting from these injuries and the changes to the victim’s quality of life.
Filing a Claim for Head Injuries
Many workers may be afraid to file a claim for a head injury because of a lack of information regarding the process, but a reliable attorney will be able to help you navigate the process from consultation to settlement. Illinois allows employees to file a claim with either their employer or the state.
When seeking a workers’ comp claim through your employer, you will need to provide the employer with a written description of the accident and/or injury within 45 days of occurrence, unless the injury was delayed. The employer can then decide whether or accept or deny the claim, but he or she will then need to provide a written description explaining the decision. If the employer accepts the claim, the employer should receive benefits and access to health care from the employer. However, if the claim is denied, you still have the option of filing an appeal with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC), which will then conduct an investigation of the claim and the denial.
Workers also have the ability to file a claim directly with the IWCC if they wish to speed up the process, which may be a better decision if the employee suspects the employer will deny the claim regardless. You will also need to submit a written description of the incident and injury if you choose to file with the IWCC.
Experienced and Reliable Head Injury Workers’ Comp Attorneys
Regardless of the nature of your injury and the accident that caused it, you likely have several concerns such as:
- When you can return to work
- How you’ll be able to support yourself and your family while out of work
- How much compensation you’ll be able to recover with the help of a workers’ comp claim
- When you’ll be able to cover all medical costs
At Vasilatos Injury Law, we will help you file your claim, provide representation for any negotiations out of court, and can even provide representation in court, if necessary. Our attorneys understand how important it is to our clients that they can restore their lives to the way they were before the injury, and will work with you to help you get back to where you were.
Our attorneys will help determine how the head injury has impacted your health and overall wellbeing from employment and health to your financial situation, and will help you seek the benefits you deserve. We’ll work with you to recover a fair settlement that helps cover all medical costs along with lost wages resulting from time taken off from work for recovery.
We have provided representation for many clients who have sustained head injuries on the job along with other types of injuries. We understand how these injuries can severely impact your life, which is why we work hard to help our clients restore their lives.
How Workers’ Compensation for Head Injuries Can Help
If you sustain a head injury or any other type of work injury or illness, you may be able to recover benefits to help you get the treatment needed to recover. Workers’ comp can help cover a variety of bills pertaining to head injuries, including:
- Doctor visits
- Surgery
- Medication
- Rehabilitation
- Hospital stays
- Medical equipment
Average Head Injury Settlement
The amount of compensation you can receive for a head injury will depend on the nature of the injury and the incident that caused it. The following are some success stories our clients have experienced with the help of our attorneys.
