You were minding your own business at work and heading to your station when a co-worker suddenly turned a corner and ran into you. Normally, this would have been a minor incident that you could have laughed off, but this time, you tripped over something as you stepped backwards.
That resulted in you losing your balance. As you fell, you hit a few shelves and products. It was very clear that you’d injured your head; it was bleeding, and you felt nauseated immediately.
The way you’re feeling could be a sign of a concussion, so it’s a good thing that you went to the emergency room. A concussion is a traumatic brain injury, and it can have lasting consequences depending on the severity of the injury itself. You hit your head, which may have caused your brain to essentially bounce off the skull. This impact causes swelling, which can impact the way you think and feel.
What are the symptoms of a concussion?
The symptoms of a concussion include:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Drowsiness
- Blurry vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Confusion
- Seeing stars/lights in your eyes
- Amnesia immediately following the strike to the head
Any time you have these or related symptoms, you should seek immediate medical care. An injury to your brain is serious and needs rapid treatment.
Can you file for workers’ compensation if you fall on the job?
Yes, even though this was purely an accident, you’ll be able to file for workers’ compensation. You don’t need to prove negligence or that hazards were present, you just need to show that you were injured while working.