What to do When Massachusetts Worker’s Compensation Cases Involved Head Injury
When you are injured at work, you may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim to compensate you for your injuries. When your injuries include a head injury or traumatic brain injury, there are some special considerations you should know about.
When you suffer a head injury at work, compensation for your medical expenses and your lost time from work are paid for by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance policy. The insurance company, however, will often try to minimize the payments they make to the injury victim in order to save money.
When your work injury involves a head injury, there are several things that you need to do differently from the moment you are injured. If you suffer a head injury or brain injury at work, make sure to:
- Know the signs – be aware of the signs and symptoms of brain injury. They include headaches, dizziness, confusion, loss of consciousness, dilated pupils, and slurred speech. Some accident victims are quick to dismiss a headache or other signs of head trauma, which is why it is crucial to understand the symptoms of a head injury.
- Tell your doctor – if a head injury is left untreated, the brain can continue to swell and cause permanent damage to brain function. If there is even a chance that you have suffered a brain injury, you need to seek immediate medical attention and also inform your medical provider of your symptoms and the circumstances of your accident, such as whether or not there was an impact to your head.
- Hire a lawyer – if your accident involves a head injury, it will not be a run-of-the-mill workers’ compensation case. There are many complications with head injury cases, and you will need to make sure your attorney is experienced in handling these matters.
When you are considering hiring a lawyer for your workers’ compensation claim, there are several factors you need to take into consideration if your case involves a head injury:
- Head injuries have serious consequences. A head injury can leave its victim paralyzed, unable to speak, with a loss of cognitive function, change in personality, or loss of sensory abilities. In severe cases, the victim can be in a permanent comatose state. These serious injuries deserve fair compensation, and a lawyer who understands the complex nature of your injuries will be able to help you with your claim.
- Head injuries can permanently affect you. Brain injuries have serious implications for a victim’s ability to work in the future. Workers’ compensation insurance companies may not fully understand the long-lasting effects of your injury, or they may offer you a low settlement amount that doesn’t take into account your future loss of income.
- Head injuries are costly to treat. If you have a head injury, you will be facing a great deal of medical treatment, rehabilitative therapy, and possible long-term care. Make sure you hire an attorney who knows how to handle large workers’ compensation claims for victims of brain injury.
If you have any questions about workers’ compensation claims for head injury cases, contact Boston Attorney David Dwork. Attorney Dwork is experienced in handling legal claims for victims of traumatic brain injury and head injury.