Concussion Awareness Month: Workplace Risk And Your Rights To Workers’ Compensation In Harrisburg
National Concussion Awareness Day is held annually on the third Friday in September. It educates the public about one of the most common and dangerous personal injuries, how they happen, and where victims and their families can get help.
A concussion is a leading cause of traumatic brain injury and can result from any bump, blow, or violent jolt or shaking of the head. Our Harrisburg workers’ compensation lawyer explains how concussions can happen in the workplace and how to get the benefits you are entitled to in a claim.
How Concussions Can Happen On-The-Job Injury In Harrisburg
A common type of traumatic brain injury, concussions impact millions of people each year. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, they can happen as a result of any sudden blow, bump, or jolt to the head and neck. This may disrupt neural pathways and damage brain tissues, causing victims potentially severe physical, cognitive, and emotional impairments.
Concussions are common in the workplace and among the most common ways they occur include:
- Falling objects: This is common in the construction industry and a primary reason that helmets are required.
- Slips and falls: Falling can cause you violent jolting in the head and neck. Concussions can also happen due to falling and hitting cement or other hard surfaces.
- Accidents involving motor vehicles or machinery: Being involved in a work-related car crash or accidents involving machinery on work sites can cause serious concussion injuries in Harrisburg.
Harrisburg Workers’ Compensation Benefits: When Concussion Injuries Keep You Off The Job
While a concussion can happen on any job site, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that professional drivers, construction workers, warehouse workers, and police or other emergency service providers are among those at high risk. Unfortunately, concussions can cause impairments that include:
- Difficulty walking and maintaining balance or coordination;
- Concentration problems, making it harder to focus on tasks;
- Memory impairments, which can impact your ability to follow instructions;
- Communications issues, making it harder to communicate on the job or understand what others say.
When concussions happen at work and keep you from performing your job, workers’ compensation in Harrisburg may be available. Administered through the Pennsylvania State Department of Labor, benefits can help cover your medical costs, portions of lost wages, and any job retraining you require. To protect your rights in a claim, report your injuries immediately to your supervisor and get medical attention right away, regardless of the severity of your symptoms.
To Protect Your Rights, Request A Consultation With Our Harrisburg Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Concussions can happen on any job site and are one of the most common types of injuries. The impacts you suffer could prevent you from working, both now and in the future. To protect your rights, contact Ira H. Weinstock, P.C. We provide the trusted legal guidance you need to get the maximum benefits you are entitled to in a claim. Request a consultation today with our experienced Harrisburg workers’ compensation lawyer.
Sources:
nationalconcussionawarenessday.com/index.html
pa.gov/en/agencies/health/diseases-conditions/brain-and-neurological/traumatic-brain-injury.html
dli.pa.gov/Individuals/Workers-Compensation/
