If you fall at work and believe you have a brain injury, regardless of the height you fell from, it is important to get help from a medical professional as soon as possible. Brain injuries need to be evaluated quickly and workers should never be encouraged to “tough it out” or try to keep working after the incident.
This may seem straightforward, but deciding if you think you have suffered a brain injury is sometimes more complicated. Symptoms vary from person to person and injury to injury. Some symptoms may not be apparent at the time of the accident; for instance, much of the danger of bleeding on the surface of the brain is the pressure that it puts on the brain tissue, and this gets vastly worse with time.
To help you know if it is time to see a medical professional, consider these potential symptoms:
- Losing consciousness, regardless of the length
- Feeling dizzy and lightheaded
- Feeling confused
- Not being able to find the right words
- Having trouble remembering things or having a gap in your memories
- Either not being able to fall asleep or sleeping more than usual
- Experiencing physical pain, like headaches or migraines
- Feeling emotional
- Experiencing difficulty with balance and motor skills
- Feel too sensitive to things like light or sound
Again, though, it’s important to remember that you could have unique symptoms and that no two cases are always the same. Err on the side of caution. If you do suffer a brain injury at work and it has long-term consequences, it may be time to look into your rights.