Head Injuries Attorneys in Naperville, Illinois

Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), are the most common injuries that people suffer from in workplace accidents. A work-related head injury can lead to devastating physical, emotional, financial, and personal effects, not to mention that a worker may be unable to return to work.

Fortunately, workers who suffered work-related head injuries may be entitled to compensation through their employer's insurance company. By seeking workers' compensation benefits, injured workers can ease the financial strain and focus on their medical treatment.

Consider contacting our skilled head injuries attorneys at Marker & Crannell to discuss your unique situation and determine what you can do to achieve the best possible result in your workers' compensation case. Our experienced and results-driven attorneys provide legal assistance to workers in Naperville, Illinois, and throughout the state, including Aurora, Joliet, Bolingbrook, Woodridge, Romeoville, and elsewhere.

Causes of Head Injuries at Work

Many work-related events might result in head injuries. Common types of workplace accidents that may cause a head injury include:

1. Falls, including slip and fall accidents and falls from heights. Falls are one of the leading causes of work-related injuries, including head injuries. Workers may suffer a head injury when they slip and fall on a slippery floor or fall from heights.
2. Motor vehicle accidents. When driving a motor vehicle or riding as a passenger in a vehicle is one of a worker's duties, they may suffer head injuries when motor vehicle accidents occur.
3. Contact with objects. A worker may suffer a traumatic brain injury when an object hits their head or when an object penetrates their brain. Contact with objects accidents may occur when workers are struck by falling objects.
4. Violence at work. Workers may sustain head injuries from work-related violence, including assault in the workplace.
5. Explosions. Explosions are a common cause of head injuries, as blast waves can cause severe trauma without a direct blow to the head.

Regardless of what caused your work-related head injury, you might want to discuss your situation with a knowledgeable workers' compensation attorney to determine if you are entitled to benefits to cover the cost of your medical treatment and the loss of income.

Symptoms of Head Injury

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated over 1.5 million people in the United States sustain head injuries every year. Following a workplace accident in which a worker's head strikes against an object or is struck by an object, the worker should watch out for the following symptoms:

• Confusion
• Headache
• Nausea
• Seizures
• Ringing in the ears
• Vomiting
• Loss of consciousness
• Memory loss
• Loss of balance
• Coordination problems
• Disorientation
• Mood swings

These and many other symptoms may indicate head injuries. Some head injuries may have a temporary negative effect on brain cells, while others may result in permanent damage to the brain, including life-long complications. It is crucial to get medical treatment as soon as possible for the best possible outcome.

Filing a Workers' Compensation Claim for Work-Related Head Injuries

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 107,000 non-fatal work-related injuries and illnesses were reported in Illinois in 2020 alone. When employees sustain head injuries at work, there are several steps they need to take when filing a workers' compensation claim in Illinois:

1. Notify the employer. Illinois law requires injured or sick workers to notify their employer of the work-related injury or illness within 45 days. Failure to report the injury or illness before the deadline can jeopardize the worker's future claim for compensation.
2. Wait for the employer's response. Under Illinois law, employers have only 14 days to either accept or deny workers' injury claims if the worker's injury or illness caused them to miss at least three days of work.
3. The employer files a report with the WCC. Employers in Illinois must file an accident report with the Workers' Compensation Commission (WCC) within 30 days.
4. Check the status of the injury claim. A worker must regularly report to the employer and check the status of the injury claim.

Under Illinois law, workers who sustain work-related injuries must file a claim within three years after the date of the workplace accident or within two years from the date of receiving the last payment for compensation, whichever occurs later. However, the statute of limitations depends on the identity of the plaintiff (the injured worker) and the defendant.

Head Injuries Attorneys Serving Naperville, Illinois

If you suffered a head injury while performing the duties of your job, you might face mounting medical bills and your injury may prevent you from working. If this sounds like your situation, contact our head injuries attorneys in Naperville, Illinois. Get a case review with our attorneys at Marker & Crannell to discuss whether or not you can obtain workers' comp benefits. Our team serves clients also in Lisle, Wheaton, Plainfield, Bolingbrook, and Aurora, Illinois.