Concussions and Closed Head Injuries

Head injuries may have particularly long-lasting and severe impacts on a victim. Although many of the physical manifestations of the trauma may be obvious, some of the cognitive effects may not be readily identifiable and may lead to ongoing issues. Concussions and closed head injuries happen in a variety of situations, including while a victim is on the job. This is especially true for people who work in areas that involve substantial physical exertion, like construction workers or delivery drivers. Greenville and Spartanburg work injury lawyer Patrick E. Knie can help employees and their families with pursuing compensation for concussions and closed head injuries.

If you have suffered a closed head injury or concussion at work, the first thing that you should do is seek prompt medical attention. These incidents may lead to a variety of complicated, painful, and permanent conditions if they are not treated in a timely manner, including blood clots and aneurysms. Since the consequences of a closed head injury or concussion are not always readily apparent, it is critical to keep track of how you feel, as well as your memory, personality, and sleep patterns, after sustaining a traumatic blow to the skull.

If you have been injured on the job, South Carolina entitles you to seek benefits through your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier. This process is intended to ensure that employees receive compensation for their injuries in an efficient and fair manner. In exchange for receiving these benefits, the employee is not permitted to pursue a legal claim against their employer, except in some very limited circumstances.

After seeking medical attention, you should notify your employer that you have been injured at work. The employer will then initiate the claims process. Next, a medical examiner will evaluate you to determine the nature and extent of your closed head injury or concussion. This evaluation will typically serve as the basis for calculating the amount of benefit payments to which you may be entitled. If you are unable to work while you are coping with or recovering from your accident, the benefit payments will provide you with a certain percentage of the salary or wages that you typically receive. If you are able to perform only limited job duties, a percentage of your salary or wages will be allocated to make up for the balance of the time that you are unable to work.

Understanding your rights after suffering a job-related injury may be challenging, especially if you are dealing with devastating symptoms and the stress of missing work. Spartanburg and Greenville work injury attorney Patrick E. Knie serves each client with the compassionate, personalized, and vigorous legal counsel that they deserve. Representing injured employees throughout Cherokee, Union, Greenville, Spartanburg, and Laurens Counties, we provide a free consultation to help you learn more about the South Carolina workers’ compensation system. Call us at (864) 582-5118 or contact us online to set up your appointment with a workers’ compensation attorney.