A Concussion Can Keep You Out of Work

A Concussion Can Keep You Out of Work

A concussion is a kind of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and it is a serious injury with unpredictable effects that can keep you out of work for a considerable amount of time. According to the Mayo Clinic, a concussion affects your brain function and can lead to problems like headaches, difficulty concentrating, and issues with your memory, coordination, and balance – all of which can obviously inhibit your ability to perform your job on a daily basis. If you’ve suffered a concussion on the job, you need the professional legal counsel of an experienced Kansas workers’ compensation attorney on your side. 

Concussions: The Warning Signs

One of the dangers of concussions is that their symptoms can be subtle and slow to present. This means that you could suffer from a concussion for a while before you are even aware of it. This makes it more difficult to obtain the medical attention you need and allows your condition to become more serious. There are, however, certain accident-related warning signs of a concussion that you should be on the lookout for. These include:

• Having a headache or a sense of pressure in your head
• Having a temporary loss of consciousness 
• Feeling confused or as if you are in a fog
• Feeling dizzy – or seeing stars
• Hearing ringing in your ears
• Feeling nauseated and/or vomiting
• Slurring your speech
• Looking as if you are dazed
• Having unexplained fatigue
• Having amnesia in relation to the precipitating event

Some symptoms, such as the above, can come on immediately while others can take their time showing up. These can include:

• Problems concentrating and/or problems with your memory
• Changes in your personality, such as unexplained irritability
• Newly acquired sensitivity to light and sound
• Newly acquired sleep problems
• Increased psychological adjustment issues such as anxiety and depression
• Disorders with your sense of smell and taste

If you’ve been in an accident on the job and experience any of these symptoms – either immediately or gradually – seek medical attention.

A Concussion and Your Job

No matter what kind of work you do, you obviously need to be on top of your game to ensure your work product and to protect your personal safety on the job. Any of the signs and symptoms of a concussion – even a relatively mild concussion – can negatively affect your ability to return to work for some time. And if your concussion is quite serious, you could be out of work for an extended period. This is just as true for manual laborers as it is for office workers.

If You’ve Suffered a Concussion on the Job, a Skilled Kansas Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help 

Suffering a concussion in an accident on the job can leave you injured, but it can also keep you out of work. Tom Pyle at Pyle Law in McPherson, Kansas, is a formidable workers’ compensation attorney who is committed to skillfully advocating for the compensation to which you are entitled. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at (888) 381-1155 today.