Why an on-the-job brain injury could end a worker’s career

Brain injuries are often relatively catastrophic for those who sustain harm in this way. An injury to the brain can lead to major medical expenses. In some cases, the injured person may have to cease working or change to a less lucrative profession.

Both of those outcomes can lead to financial devastation. Workers’ compensation benefits can help those dealing with catastrophic job injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Workers in a variety of different professions can injure their brains while on the clock. They could fall down stairs, experience interpersonal violence, get into a car crash or have accidental contact with heavy machinery. Others may end up hurt by electrical shock or chemical exposure.

Why might a TBI caused by a work incident cause someone to end or alter their career?

The injury may limit their work capabilities

Many people underestimate how significant TBI symptoms can be. The range of potential symptoms is quite extensive. Some people experience memory issues or have challenges when trying to make decisions. Others experience a sudden change in their overall personality or mood.

Brain injuries can’t even affect motor function and a person’s sense of balance. Depending on the career that an individual pursues, those symptoms could prevent them from doing their job safely and effectively. They may require assistive technology or may not be able to continue performing basic job functions the way they previously could.

Symptoms are unlikely to disappear

Another reason that TBI symptoms may lead to the end of someone’s career as they know it is that those symptoms typically don’t just go away with time and treatment. In cases involving moderate to severe brain injuries, symptoms are often permanent. They may get worse slowly over the first few months after the initial trauma due to ongoing bleeding or swelling inside the skull.

Once the injury stabilizes, the symptoms may persist indefinitely. Modern medical science is not yet capable of reversing brain injury damage. At best, medical professionals can intervene after a traumatic injury to prevent someone’s symptoms from worsening.

Oftentimes, those with TBIs require extensive and costly medical care not just immediately after they get hurt but regularly for the rest of their lives. Workers’ compensation can help pay for the expenses generated by their treatment and can also replace their lost wages or balance out their reduced earning potential.

Establishing that a TBI is an on-the-job injury is the first step toward seeking workers’ compensation benefits. Injured employees who know their rights can push for fair treatment when an incident at work leaves them struggling to support themselves and their family members.