Routine Blows to the Head May Cause Long-Term Damage
Can you count the times that you have been hit in the head hard enough to see stars? A major 2012 study on head trauma, covered by the New York Times, revealed that regular hits to the head can cause serious trouble down the line. People who have endured routine head blows may suffer from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or C.T.E., which has no known cure.
While the study’s primary focus was on athletes and military vets, construction crews can certainly be counted among workers likely to be struck in the head. If you are a New York or New Jersey construction worker suffering from traumatic brain injury, you should be aware of the dangers of C.T.E. The New York and New Jersey construction accident attorneys of Ginarte Gonzalez & Winograd, L.L.P., may be able to help you.
As the Occupational Safety and Health Administration points out, being hit by an object is one of the major causes of construction deaths and injuries. The top three objects to strike construction workers are:
- Heavy equipment or vehicles, such as cranes and trucks.
- Flying or falling objects, such as tools.
- Masonry or concrete walls being constructed.
No matter where on your body you are hit, the head often takes a blow, such as when something knocks you to the ground.
Hard hats are essential when working in construction, but they cannot save the head from every danger. When a pipe falling from a great height or a heavy load swinging from a crane hits a hardhat, it’s likely to do some damage beneath.
The frightening thing about C.T.E. is that even smaller hits, what doctors called “subconcussive,” might be a contributor to the disease. According to the study, there are four stages of C.T.E., causing symptoms ranging from headaches and concentration problems to depression, explosive behavior, short-term memory loss, cognitive impairment, dementia and aggression.
The 4-year study included 85 people who suffered regular blows to the head. Of these, 80 percent showed evidence of C.T.E. How does this translate to the world outside of the study, such as in high-risk careers like construction? As an author of the study told the New York Times, “It’s a gambler’s game to try to predict what percentage of the population has this.”
If you suffered a head injury while on the job and are worried about long-term damage, talk to our New York and New Jersey construction accident attorneys. We help people injured in construction accidents get the compensation and benefits they deserve.
