Approximately 1.7 million people suffer brain injuries each year in the United States, and many of those people suffer these potentially life-changing injuries at work. The risks of suffering a brain injury at work are similar to the risks of suffering a brain injury anywhere else, and include:
- Falls.
- Motor vehicle accidents.
- Getting hid in the head by something.
- Assault or other forms of violence.
If you suffered a traumatic brain injury after one of these work-related accidents—or in any other work-related accident—then it is important to know what to do next and what you may be able to recover with the help of an experienced Iowa workers’ compensation attorney.
What to Do After a Head Injury at Work
Immediately after your work accident, or as soon as you begin exhibiting signs of a potential head injury, you should notify your employer and seek emergency medical treatment. If you need to go to the emergency room, then it is important to let your employer and the hospital know that the accident happened at work.
Your employer has the right to choose your medical providers so long as those providers are reasonably suited to treat your injury. Once you begin treatment, it is important to follow your doctor’s treatment plans, to keep notes of how your injury is impacting your life, and to report any changes in your medical condition to your doctor promptly.
Iowa Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Since your injury occurred in a work-related accident, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. The specific benefits that you may earn will depend on whether your injury is classified as a:
- Temporary partial disability.
- Temporary total disability.
- Permanent partial disability.
- Permanent total disability.
An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can make sure that your traumatic brain injury is classified correctly and that you get the full and fair benefits that you deserve. To learn more, please schedule a free confidential consultation with us as soon as possible by reaching out to us via this website or by phone.
