Did you know that every year more than 2.8 million people seek emergency treatment for a traumatic brain injury, according to the Brain Injury Association of America?
That number is more than a statistic. It represents hundreds of thousands of families who must cope with the effects of a brain injury for many years to come.
Long-term effects of a brain injury
Every brain injury has the potential to cause painful, disruptive symptoms.
When people suffer a more severe brain injury in an accident, they can spend the rest of their lives coping with symptoms like:
- Seizures
- Loss of coordination
- Memory loss
- Sleep problems
- Declines in executive functions
- Personality changes
- Difficulty concentrating
- Changes in senses like taste and smell
- Emotional anguish, including depression and anxiety
Some of these symptoms can be treated with medication, surgery or rehabilitation. Some may go away with time, while others may persist indefinitely.
Thus, treating a severe brain injury with long-term effects can be a long, frustrating process.
Preventing brain injuries on the job
Brain injuries can change a person’s life in the blink of an eye. In the span of a single incident, a person can become unable to work or care for themselves.
Thus, preventing brain injuries on the job is vital. There are several ways to avoid brain injuries to workers:
- Have safety protocols in place and routinely reviewed
- Raise awareness of the risks of brain injuries among workers
- Adequately train workers for hazardous conditions
- Provide protective gear to employees
Workers should also comply with safety regulations, wear helmets and other gear when necessary and stay alert on the job. These measures can protect workers and prevent brain injuries from threatening their health and livelihood.
However, even when the above is provided and followed, accidents still occur. Under Maryland law, an employer need not act negligently to be responsible for a work place accident. Should a worker experience a head or brain injury, it is important they contact an experienced attorney to ensure the injured worker receives the medical care and benefits needed to recover from their injury.
