Traumatic Brain Injuries & NY / NJ Construction Accidents

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can affect everything about a person’s life, including personality and the ability to do basic daily tasks. Severe TBI can disable a victim for life. Other victims will die from their brain injuries. A recent report found that construction had more fatal TBIs than any other industry. Many hazards at New York and New Jersey construction sites can cause a TBI. While wearing a hardhat is better than not having protection, brain injuries can still happen. If you or a loved one has suffered a mild or severe TBI, call the construction accident lawyers at the Ginarte law firm.

As one of the biggest firms in the NY / NJ area handling construction injury cases, the Ginarte law firm has the resources to help you win your TBI claim. Call 1-888-GINARTE now to find out what we can do for you. Fill out our online contact form if you prefer. We have 28 lawyers on staff ready to handle your traumatic brain injury case.

Don’t delay. Contact the NY / NJ TBI attorneys at Ginarte Gonzalez & Winograd, LLP, today. Construction injury lawsuits have strict deadlines. Don’t risk waiver of your claim by waiting to call us.

Causes Of TBI At NY / NJ Construction Sites

According to a 2011 study in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, nearly a third of all fatal workplace TBI cases come from falls. About 18 percent of all fatal workplace brain injuries resulted from contact with objects or equipment. The same study reported that construction workers had the highest rate of workplace TBI deaths.

It is easy to suffer a closed-head injury in a fall from scaffolds or a ladder. But you don’t have to fall from heights to suffer TBI. Even a fall on the same level could cause a traumatic brain injury. Many times the damage occurs when the brain hits the inside of the skull. This can happen even in what seems like a minor fall. You might not notice symptoms for days or even weeks. That’s why it’s important to get a full checkup after any fall. Most brain injuries involve mild TBI, which some people call a concussion.

Falling objects are another source of construction site TBIs in New York and New Jersey. A blunt object can hit a worker in the head and cause a TBI even if the worker was wearing a hardhat. The chance of injury is even greater if the worker’s head was uncovered. A falling object with a sharp point could cause an open-head injury. This form of TBI involves something piercing the skull. A good example is a nail fired from a nail gun.

Brain Injuries Can Cause Lifelong Impairment

TBI is a condition that can have serious effects on basic life activities. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate that about 1.7 million Americans experience a TBI each year. About 52,000 TBI victims die. Another 275,000 will go to the hospital. Over 1.3 million TBI patients get treatment in the ER each year.

Whether mild or severe, TBI can cause a sudden change in the victim’s life. The changes often last forever because the brain doesn’t heal like other parts of the body. TBI treatments usually focus on preventing what’s known as a secondary injury. This can happen when the brain swells, pressure inside the skull increases or bleeding inside the skull leads to more brain cell death. Once the brain damage happens, the best hope for most TBI patients is that months or years of therapy can help them live with their injuries.

The worst cases of TBI result in a stupor, coma, unresponsive state or persistent vegetative state. Mild TBI causes less severe disabilities, but they can still have a drastic impact on a victim’s life. Some disabilities associated with mild TBI include:

• Problems with thinking, memory and reasoning;
• Vision loss;
• Hearing loss;
• Altered sense of taste and smell;
• Personality changes;
• Depression;
• Anxiety;
• Aggression;
• Trouble speaking and understanding what others say; and
• Problems with reading and writing.

NY / NJ Construction Workers At Risk For TBI

Anyone who is present at a New York or New Jersey construction site can become a TBI victim. Here is a list of some construction jobs that present a brain injury hazard:

• General laborers and helpers;
• Ironworkers;
• Plumbers;
• Roofers;
• Carpenters;
• Tile setters;
• Mechanics;
• Welders;
• Masons;
• Plasterers;
• Window installers;
• HVAC installers;
• Decorators;
• Flooring and carpet installers;
• Site supervisors;
• Drywall hangers;
• Elevator installers;
• Electricians;
• Painters;
• Demolition workers;
• Scaffold workers;
• Insulation installers;
• Framers, and others.

Treatments For Brain Damage Are Expensive

Traumatic brain injuries often leave a victim with a lifetime of medical and therapy bills. Some TBI victims might need around-the-clock care, which can be very expensive. Many people with TBI will never be able to work again, increasing money troubles for their families. A CDC study calculated that the total cost of TBI in the United States approaches $60 billion every year. It is true that workers’ comp will provide benefits in many workplace injury cases. However, workers’ comp alone is rarely enough to cover all of the costs from even a mild TBI. You need to get help from the Ginarte law firm to find out how you can get all of the money you deserve after a construction site brain injury.

Talk To The NY / NJ TBI Lawyers At Ginarte Today!

If you or someone you love has suffered TBI at a construction site in New York or New Jersey, the Ginarte law firm wants to hear from you. Call us now to find out how we can help you get the money you need to put your life back together. Dial 1-888-GINARTE today. You can fill out our online form if you prefer. Or visit us at one of our seven offices: Newark, New York City, Union City, Elizabeth, Clifton and Perth Amboy.