Suffering an injury of any kind at work can be life-altering, and knowing what to do next to protect yourself is essential. Going through the process of a workers’ compensation brain injury case can be very arduous and complex. The process is lengthy because traumatic brain injuries take time to develop and properly diagnose. Most common workplace injuries are preventable but being mindful of any symptoms you may be noticing after an accident and knowing your legal rights if those symptoms continue to worsen is critical.

 Most Common Workplace Injuries

Any injury involving your brain, skull, or scalp is categorized as a head injury. The most common ways these workplace injuries occur are:

• Falling from a height — Falling a significant height off a ladder, roof, or scaffolding can cause serious and sometimes fatal head injuries. Even a fall from a few feet can cause a traumatic brain injury.
• Struck by an object — Head trauma can be caused by flying or falling objects or being struck by a piece of heavy machinery.
• Auto accidents — Many companies have drivers on the road, which increases the likelihood of an accident happening and traumatic injuries taking place.
• Slip and fall — Anything that causes a worker to lose their footing and slip or trip and fall may result in a head injury. 

Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury

The effects of brain injuries don’t always show up immediately and can sometimes take hours or days after an accident for symptoms to show. These symptoms include but are not limited to losing consciousness, headaches that continue to worsen and become more frequent, seizures, sensitivity to light, vomiting or nausea, and memory problems. Some of these symptoms are referred to as “mild” by physicians, but the reality is that no brain injury should be taken lightly.

Patients who undergo surgical procedures expect medical professionals to follow the proper procedures and take all necessary steps to protect their health and safety. Surgeons must receive extensive education and training to ensure that they can perform procedures correctly, and all medical personnel who are involved in surgery are required to follow standardized practices to protect against infections or other issues that could harm a patient. Unfortunately, surgical errors sometimes occur, and patients who are injured because of medical malpractice may be able to receive financial compensation that will address the ways they have been affected by the negligence of medical professionals.

Forms of Negligence That Can Lead to Surgical Errors and Patient Injuries

Medical malpractice involves any situations where doctors, surgeons, hospital personnel, or other medical providers deviate from the accepted standard of care and cause patients to suffer harm. Since surgical procedures can be invasive, patients may be seriously injured due to malpractice. Many of the most common surgical errors involve procedures that are performed incorrectly. These issues may include:

• Wrong side errors - A surgical procedure may be performed on the wrong side of the body. Examples of these errors include orthopedic surgery performed on the wrong knee or the removal of the wrong ovary. These errors may occur if personnel do not properly prepare for surgery and mark the side of the body where a procedure should be performed. 

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When a person is injured because of someone else’s actions or negligence, they can take legal action to pursue financial compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit. These cases can address multiple types of catastrophic injuries. Broken bones are one issue that may need to be addressed, and depending on the severity of a fracture, a person may require extensive medical treatment, and their ability to work and perform daily tasks may be affected. By understanding the different types of bone fractures, their causes, and the forms of treatment that may be needed, an injury victim can take steps to ensure that they will be properly compensated for their damages.

Treatment for Different Types of Broken Bones

Bone fractures can range from relatively mild to severe. Common types of fractures include:

• Stable fractures - In some cases, a bone may cleanly break into two pieces, with the pieces staying in the same position and remaining in alignment. These are often the easiest and simplest fractures to treat, since immobilizing the bones through the use of a cast will allow them to heal properly. 

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A car accident can cause a great deal of trauma to a person’s body. The impact that occurs when one vehicle collides with another may force body parts into unnatural positions or cause jolting or wrenching motions that can lead to multiple types of bodily injuries. Some of the most serious injuries that can occur in a collision may affect the spinal cord, and they may lead to chronic pain, loss of range of motion, or paralysis. If a spine injury results in herniated discs, a person will want to understand how this may affect their long-term health, the types of treatment that may be necessary, and their options for receiving compensation for their damages.

What Is a Herniated Disc?

The vertebrae in the spinal cord are separated by soft discs that provide a cushion and allow a person to move their upper body into different positions. When a person experiences trauma, such as the impact of a car accident, these discs may be damaged. Torn or ruptured discs may result in a loss of cushioning, causing the bones in the spine to grind together and potentially resulting in pinched nerves. Damage to discs may cause them to bulge, placing pressure on the spinal cord or other nerves.

Depending on the location of herniated discs, a person may experience different types of symptoms. Herniated discs in the lower back may result in back pain, numbness or tingling in the legs and feet, or weakness of the muscles in the legs and lower body. Herniated discs in the neck can cause pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, or hands, numbness or tingling in the arms, and restrictions in motion of the neck and upper body. Damage to discs in the spine can also lead to issues such as muscle spasms, problems with balance, delayed reflexes, difficulty standing up from a seated position, or loss of bladder or bowel control.

Even though childbirth is a common medical procedure that is performed in hospitals on a daily basis, there are a variety of issues that can arise during labor and delivery that may result in birth injuries. If doctors, nurses, or other personnel that assist with childbirth do not take the correct measures to address complications or respond to potential concerns, a child or mother may suffer serious harm. Meconium aspiration is one issue that staff members should be aware of, and it can lead to a variety of health concerns for a child.

What Is Meconium Aspiration?

The first stool that a child passes after being born consists of meconium, which is a thick, tar-like substance. In some cases, a child may pass meconium while still in the womb. When meconium becomes mixed with the amniotic fluid, the child may inhale or aspirate this substance into their lungs during labor and delivery. This can lead to a condition known as meconium aspiration syndrome.

Meconium that is inhaled can block a child’s airways or coat the surface of their lungs, affecting their ability to absorb oxygen into the bloodstream. A lack of oxygen can lead to multiple types of injuries and health issues, including damage to a child’s brain that may result in cerebral palsy. If meconium aspiration syndrome is not treated properly, a child may also experience infections such as pneumonia, lung injuries that affect their ability to breathe, and increased blood pressure that may cause other ongoing health concerns.