Workers who fall at work are at risk of very serious injuries, especially when the fall is from an elevated area. One of the possible injuries that might occur is a head injury, of which there are several types.
One thing that is universal for all of these head injuries is that injured workers can seek workers compensation benefits if they are going to need medical care or have to miss work during recovery. Whether you are a construction worker who falls from a ladder, a nurse who slips on a wet floor, or a factory worker who trips over something, these are the possible head injuries.
A concussion is a head injury that might not have symptoms right away. Instead, you might not notice that there is an issue until hours or days after the accident. Some signs of a concussion include a headache, nausea, loss of consciousness, dizziness, trouble with memory, and difficulty staying awake. This condition will likely require medical care.
An intracranial hematoma is blood clot that is inside of the skull. There are different classifications of the intracranial hematoma. Each of these is classified by the location of the hematoma. Interestingly, an intracranial hematoma can be the result of a violent shaking of the head, so a direct blow to the head isn’t always required.
A skull fracture is a very serious injury that demands immediate attention. There are different types of fractures, each of which has a different treatment protocol.
A linear fracture is the most common and least serious type. This means that the bone fractured, but the bone didn’t move. This typically requires a stay in the hospital and observation, but no surgical intervention.
Depressed skull fractures and basilar skull fractures are more serious. A depressed skull fracture might require surgery to correct it.
A basilar skull fracture, which occurs at the base of the skull, usually requires intensive monitoring at the hospital. This is partially because the fracture can tear the lining of the brain, which would lead to fluid leakage in the nose or ears.
The care that is often needed for these injuries can be very costly. Workers compensation can help you cover these costs, as well as making up some of the income that you have to miss out on if you can’t work while you are healing. This could help you to get your medical care covered and pay your regular bills until you can head back to work.
