Construction Traumatic Brain Injuries
Texas construction accidents can lead to many severe ailments, including closed and open brain injuries. Closed brain injuries occur when the head is either snapped back and forth quickly, or when it collides with another object. Open brain injuries are caused by an object penetrating the skull and damaging the brain.
Construction Brain Injury Causes
According to the United States Department of Labor, there are four particularly hazardous types of construction accidents:
- Caught-between accidents. Construction workers might suffer head injuries when they are caught between levels of a building, pinned by a piece of machinery, or stuck in a trench. In addition to causing direct damage to the head, these accidents can also result in crush injuries, depriving the worker of oxygen and leading to an acquired brain injury.
- Struck-by accidents. Loose or unsecured materials falling from height, and cranes lifting heavy materials, can cause traumatic brain injuries when they strike a worker in the head. Workers are particularly at risk of injury when they’re not wearing hard hats.
- Electrocution. A high-voltage electrical shock may lead to severe damage to the nerves that allow the brain to communicate with the rest of the body. This surge can also cause burns and lesions within the brain.
- Falls. These incidents are also common causes of traumatic brain injuries. Falls may occur due to unsecured ladders and scaffolding, floor openings not properly secured or unmarked, and a lack of personal fall safety equipment.
Receiving Compensation
Brain injuries can result in swelling, bleeding, and even death when left untreated. Many construction accident victims who do survive traumatic brain injuries are unable to return to work, and never fully recover.
If you’ve suffered brain injuries due to a construction accident, you may be entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits including medical treatment, lost wages, disability payments, and job retraining. If your injuries were caused by a third party, you may also pursue a personal injury lawsuit to recover additional damages. You need an attorney to help you receive the compensation you deserve. To learn more about what the law offices of Steve M. Lee, P.C., can do for you, visit us on Facebook.