Stephen Hasner | Workplace Injuries | November 24, 2017
It’s easy to dismiss—it was just a bump on the head, after all. It hurt at first, but now you feel okay. You have work to do and just don’t have time to go to the hospital to have your head injury checked out.
This is quite possibly the worst response to a head injury, even a seemingly minor one, that you possibly could have.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine defines a head injury is as any trauma to the scalp, skull, or brain. Such an injury can range from a minor bump or cut to a serious brain injury. Head injuries can include:
Concussions, in which the brain is shaken, are the most common type of traumatic brain injury
- Scalp wounds
- Skull fractures
- Bleeding in the brain tissue or in the skull around the brain.
If You Suffer Even a Minor Head Injury at Work, Seek Treatment
Seeing a doctor after a head injury can be the difference between life and death. There is no debate whether you should see a doctor—preferably at a hospital—after a head injury, no matter how minor it seems. The answer, always, is Now. Here’s why.
A Georgia brain-injury advocacy group argues that a hospital is the only place that can give you a CAT scan and determine whether you are bleeding in your brain. Such bleeding, difficult to detect without a CAT scan, can kill you. Cranial bleeding increases pressure on the brain and can cause hematomas.
The bleeding can increase pressure on critical portions of the brain and cause those portions to stop functioning, potentially shutting down breathing and your heart. The chances of this happening after a blow to the head cause a minor concussion are low—but the chance exists, and only a CAT scan can detect it.
How Can I Tell if I Suffered a Concussion?
Frequently, you can’t. A mild concussion might not produce serious symptoms. However, there are degrees of seriousness, and symptoms of a concussion include:
- Loss of consciousness, even if brief
- Any period of amnesia or loss of memory
- Confusion
- Headaches
- Vomiting
- Seizures
Not All Head Injuries Are Created Equal
Some head injuries—called traumatic brain injuries—cause changes in brain function. Concussions generally are mild traumatic brain injuries. However, concussion symptoms can range from mild to severe.
Traumatic brain injuries can occur whenever something strikes the head. Some head injuries are mild and will heal largely on their own, but certainly they require proper care. More severe injuries can result in symptoms such as memory loss, personality changes, and mood swings. Rarely, but in the most severe manifestations, traumatic brain injuries can cause permanent brain damage or even death.
Contact the Savannah Workplace Accident Lawyers at Hasner Law PC For Help
If you suffer a personal injury to your head at work in the Savannah area, take advantage of a free case evaluation to determine if an attorney can help maximize your compensation for your injuries. The attorneys at Hasner Law PC can help.
For more information, please contact the Savannah workplace accident law firm of Hasner Law P.C. at our nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve in Fulton County, Chatham County, and its surrounding areas:
Hasner Law PC – Atlanta Law Office
2839 Paces Ferry Rd SE #1050
Atlanta, GA 30339
(678) 888-4878
Hasner Law PC – Savannah Law Office
221 W York St
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 234-2334
