Brain injuries can happen in a number of ways. You could slip, fall and hit your head, resulting in a traumatic brain injury caused by swelling of the brain. You could strike your skull on the windshield or steering wheel of your car during a collision. Any kind of blunt force trauma to the head or penetrating injury to the skull could also result in brain injuries.
Even in scenarios where a brain injury leaves you mostly capable of returning to life as you knew it, you could still find that the impact of the injury reaches many areas of your life. Many people find that brain injuries affect their ability to continue their jobs or desired career paths. That could mean losing out on significant earning potential for the rest of your life.
Brain injuries are different in every case
Brain injuries are, by their very nature, unique to each individual. Each human has unique neurological structure and memories that a brain injury can damage. Even injuries to the same part of the brain could have varying impacts on people.
Some of the consequences or symptoms of brain injuries can include:
- confusion
- memory loss
- difficulty forming new memories
- issues with motor control
- sensory issues
- changes in personality
- sleep problems
- cognitive issues
- problems with equilibrium
Depending on the nature of your career, any one of these symptoms could keep you from retaining your current job. You may not be able to find another position in the future that offers you a similar level of compensation.
For some people, brain injuries can mean difficulty in caring for themselves without assistance. Brain injuries could also mean that you can no longer drive a motor vehicle, which can impact both your independence and your ability to retain a job.
Brain injuries can affect both skilled and educated careers
It is relatively easy to see how a brain injury could impact the life of a lawyer or a doctor. These professions rely significantly on mental acuity, memory and cognitive function. A brain injury could result in severely diminished performance by educated professionals.
However, brain injuries can have career-ending consequences for blue-collar workers as well. Some brain injuries can have an impact on motor control and strength. Even those performing manual labor need to remember certain safety procedures and perform tasks in a specific order. When a brain injury affects cognitive function, it may impact a laborer’s ability to continue performing their job.
Those who suffered career-ending injuries either at work or as a result of an injury caused by someone else likely have a chance to seek compensation. Discussing the details of your case with an Oakland attorney is a great first step toward figuring out your options for the future.
