Can TBIs Heal With Time?
Workplace car accidents, construction site negligence, and on-the-job falls often result in significant traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Head trauma is a leading cause of work-related disabilities, and brain injuries may range in severity from minor concussions to comas. Injured workers suffering from TBIs often require extensive cognitive and occupational therapy to help them regain essential fine motor skills and focus.
Though traumatic brain injuries can improve with time and treatment, some brain trauma is permanent. If you suffered a TBI while working in Wildwood, NJ, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation (WC) benefits. Discuss your right to claim benefits for a workplace TBI with the experienced Wildwood workers’ comp lawyers at the Law Offices of Matarazzo & Lubcher for free by calling (856) 388-5199 or connecting with their legal team online.
Types and Severity of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Only a qualified medical professional can give you an accurate prognosis after you suffer from a brain injury at work. However, because the brain is the body’s most complex organ, every patient responds to treatment differently. Whether you will fully recover from your TBI generally depends on whether you suffered from a mild, moderate, or severe brain injury.
Mild TBI
Concussions are the mildest form of brain trauma. Patients generally recover from minor concussions within a few days or weeks without the need for specialized therapy or treatment. However, even seemingly mild concussions may result in persistent post-concussive symptoms impacting your ability to return to work for months or even years. These symptoms include:
- Lost focus
- Short attention span
- Confusion
- Problem-solving difficulties
- Memory impairment
- Decreased awareness
- Inability to multitask
- Depression
These lingering and sometimes hidden symptoms often impact your ability to perform essential work functions.
Moderate Traumatic Brain Injuries
Moderate brain injuries often cause more significant physical and cognitive symptoms, including loss of balance, speech impediments, fatigue, light sensitivity, and sensory problems. Patients with moderate TBIs can often recover significant function with dedicated cognitive, physical, and occupational therapy. However, this can take months or years. You may need to claim workers’ compensation benefits during the treatment and recovery period.
Severe Brain Trauma and Death
Severe traumatic brain injuries often result in lifetime disabilities, especially workplace disabilities. Claimants suffering from these life-altering traumas often experience prolonged comas, brain death, significant memory loss, and the inability to control bodily functions. Although patients may progress with dedicated therapy, these injuries do not typically heal with time. You need an experienced Wildwood workers’ compensation lawyer to help you negotiate a fair WC benefits settlement in such cases.
Treating Traumatic Brain Injuries and Returning to Work in Wildwood
Though some brain injuries heal without prolonged treatment, many claimants remain disabled from work after head trauma. Regaining the fine motor skills and focus necessary to perform most jobs–from truck driving to sending emails - often requires physical, cognitive, and vocational rehabilitation. It can take years to fully recover, but it may be possible to regain your life with the right treatment. Workers injured on the job may be entitled to WC benefits in NJ during this recovery period to cover needed therapy and lost wages.
Wildwood Workers’ Compensation Attorneys for Workplace Brain Injuries
If you sustained any head injury on the job, you may be suffering from significant cognitive symptoms impacting your ability to work. You could be entitled to claim workers’ compensation benefits in such cases, including the coverage needed to obtain specialized occupational therapy.
Discuss your claims with the dedicated workers’ comp lawyers at the Law Offices of Matarazzo & Lubcher for free by calling their Wildwood office at (856) 388-5199 or connecting with them online.