Memory lapses, balance issues and light sensitivity are often dismissed as natural parts of aging. However, if you had a workplace accident involving a head injury, these symptoms may signal something far more serious and compensable.
Brain injuries may begin with mild signs that are easy to overlook. Missing them can lead to denied benefits and leave an injury untreated. Knowing the difference between injury-related symptoms and normal aging helps protect your health and your rights under California workers’ compensation law.
When something is not a senior moment
If you find yourself walking into a room and forgetting why or are tripping more often or struggling with the glare on your computer screen, it is normal to chalk things up to getting older. If you had a slip, fall or a bump to the head at work in the last year however, these may not be signs of aging.
They could be warning signs of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Recognizing the less well-known symptoms of a TBI can help when you pursue a claim so California insurance adjusters have less of a stand to blame your age to avoid paying for your care.
Identifying the symptoms beyond the headache
Some symptoms of workplace-related brain injury or neurological strain may be subtle at first, but they can gradually affect your daily life and performance. Critical signs to watch out for include:
- Cognitive lag: Forgetfulness or losing focus during complex tasks.
- Physical instability: Dizziness or balance issues that may feel like clumsiness, but are actually related to vestibular damage.
- Sensory changes: Blurry vision or sensitivity to light and noise that develop weeks or months after the accident.
- Emotional shifts: Increased irritability or anxiety that family members may notice before you do.
If you recognize any of these symptoms, it may be important to seek medical evaluation to help document when they began. Early attention can help identify the cause and support proper treatment.
Your rights under California law
When you pursue a workers’ compensation claim in California, you can receive medical treatment and temporary disability benefits regardless of your age. Other benefits can include the following:
- Access to specialists
- Speech therapy
- Cognitive rehabilitation
- Wage replacement if you need time off to recover
If the injury has permanently affected your ability to work or quality of life, you may also qualify for permanent disability compensation. In California, your employer is also liable if work activities worsen a pre-existing condition and must pay only for the portion of disability directly caused by the work injury.
Helping injured workers over 55
When you have worked hard for decades, you deserve a retirement defined by health and not by an untreated injury from a work accident. The Law Offices of Joseph E. Lounsbury can review your circumstances and help compile medical evidence to bust claim denials and pursue the full benefits you have earned.