Struck-by incidents at construction sites are among the top causes of construction worker fatalities on the job. They are also responsible for many serious injuries that can force professionals to take leave and may make it necessary to change careers.
Struck-by incidents could involve tools or materials dropped by a coworker or accidental contact with pieces of heavy equipment. Struck-by incidents can cause very serious injuries, such as the three injuries below.
1. Major fractures
Blunt-force trauma to the limbs or extremities can easily break bones. In many cases, the force of impact is strong enough to break a bone into many small pieces, producing a comminuted fracture. Workers who sustain particularly severe fractures or break multiple bones may have a long recovery ahead.
2. Spinal cord injuries
When struck-by incidents injure a worker’s head, neck or back, they are at risk of a spinal cord injury. Workers can sustain incomplete injuries that cause functional limitations. They can also experience complete injury that may produce absolute paralysis and loss of sensation below the injury site. Spinal cord injuries can affect future employment and may generate massive lifetime medical expenses.
3. Brain injuries
Blunt-force trauma to the head can cause a variety of problematic symptoms. People with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) may experience changes in their cognition and memory. They may develop motor function challenges or issues with their sense of balance. Their personalities can also change. TBIs usually do not respond to treatment, meaning that symptoms are often permanent.
Having support while filing a workers’ compensation claim for a construction site injury can make the process simpler. Injured workers may need support understanding the benefits available to them and pursuing the optimal amount of compensation possible, and that’s okay.