Were you involved in an accident at work that led to a concussion? If so, you can file a workers’ compensation claim. You will need to seek medical care right away, and your physician will most likely tell you not to return to work immediately. After suffering a concussion, you are usually required to take one or two days of work for rest and recovery. More serious concussions might require a lengthier recovery and involve an extended absence from work. Cognitive as well as physical rest are important and play a major role in your recovery and health. What Happens When You Get A Concussion? A kind of brain injury, a concussion happens when there is an impact or blow to the head or body. The impact causes the brain to either twist or bounce inside the skull. This kind of sudden movement can lead to chemical changes in the brain or lead to cell damage. A concussion causes a short-term disruption in the brain’s functioning. This brain disruption will cause sleep-related, cognitive, physical and emotional changes. During the recovery process, you are very likely to have less energy. There are several symptoms that can result from a concussion: Nervousness or anxiousness Poor memory and concentration Lightheadedness Fatigue Dizziness Headache Sensitivity to light or noise Sleep disruption Easily agitated or irritable Blurred vision The key to recovering is giving your brain time to rest and recover. Because of this, the treating physician will require you to take a couple of days off work. Concussion Grades and Recovery Time If you have been unfortunate and have been diagnosed with concussion, depending on the grade of your concussion, you may need more time to fully recover. This may result in more time off of work. The following describes the 4 different grades of concussion: Grade 0 Concussion This only requires a day or two recovery time and the typical symptoms are a headache and difficulty concentrating. Grade 1 Concussion This requires a few days of recovery time but a loss of consciousness does not take place. Grade 1 concussions tend to occur more often in minor car accidents and may accompany some sports injuries. The person suffering from a grade 1 concussion could experience some, or all, of the concussion symptoms listed below in the minutes, hours, and days after the concussion injury: nausea; memory loss; dizziness; difficulty focusing. Grade 2 Concussion This level of concussion requires several days of recovery time. The following symptoms may occur: amnesia for 24 hours or more; vomiting; seeing stars. Grade 3 Concussion This requires several weeks of recovery time and the key symptom is a loss of consciousness for a minute or less. Grade 4 Concussion This requires several weeks of recovery time. The loss of consciousness is usually a minute or longer. The victim may experience any of the following symptoms: extreme drowsiness and may not be easily wakened; unable to recognize familiar people or places; slurring of speech; one pupil appears larger than the other; fever of 100.5°F plus; exhibiting abnormal behavior, such as extreme irritability or confusion; convulsions or seizures. How Do I Rest My Brain After A Concussion? Getting brain rest after a concussion is important. This means you should take time off work and adjust any demanding projects. You should focus on only task at a time, which will give your brain time to relax. Do some light housekeeping duties, but don’t do tasks that are physically or mentally challenging. Don’t take on tasks that require hand and eye coordination, such as driving. Don’t make any major decisions. Instead, save the big decisions for after your recovery. Your short-term memory might be affected, so rest your recall powers, so you can heal better and more quickly. How Long Should I Have Off Work With A Concussion? If you have suffered a concussion in a workplace accident, you should seek immediate medical care. You will need to take at least a day or two off work to get cognitive and physical tests to determine the severity of your injury. You may need more time off work, but that varies based on several factors. Your time off work could be impacted by several factors, including: The severity of your concussion The kind of work you do The kind of symptoms you are experiencing The severity of your symptoms Your work environment How your symptoms are managed Side effects of treatments, such as medications You will need to maintain supporting evidence and documentation, such as your physician’s notes, medical records, test results, and so forth. You will also need to document your time off work and your lost wages, so workers’ compensation can pay you what you are owed. Depending on your state, you may have to be off 7 days, 14 days, or even 21 days before you are paid for any lost wages suffered because of your work-related head injury. A workers’ compensation attorney will help you gather the supporting evidence and documentation needed to get your claim underway. A lawyer will also help you determine the extent of your losses and the value of your claim. Time of the essence because a statute of limitations does apply to your workers’ compensation claim. Be sure to report your head injury and get your claim underway as quickly as possible. What To Do After A Work Accident If you have been hurt on the job, you need to notify your supervisor or manager right away. An accident report will need to be filed. However, since you have suffered a head injury, you should wait until you have recovered somewhat before giving your statement detailing the incident. You want your details to be clear and concise, so you don’t need to be in a foggy or confused state. Seek medical care right away from a physician on the approved workers’ comp list. Call an ambulance for serious injuries. Don’t drive yourself when you have a concussion. Consult With A Workers’ Compensation Attorney If you have suffered a concussion while at work, consult with a workers’ compensation attorney. Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form to get your case reviewed today. Additional Resources Tips for Applying for Workers’ Compensation with a Concussion Concussions and Workers' Compensation Claims
