Handling Traumatic Brain Injury Claims

Traumatic brain injuries, often the subject of eye-catching headlines, are now drawing the attention of employers, providers, and judges in the workers compensation industry. But what exactly is a traumatic brain injury (TBI)?

The Centers for Disease Control defines it as “a disruption in the normal function of the brain caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury.”

Everyone is at risk for a TBI, and, more often than not, the symptoms are not visible. Diagnoses are made based upon subjective symptoms and usually without objective safeguards to verify those complaints.

This presents a unique set of challenges that, if identified through an early and ongoing investigation, must be addressed in order to successfully manage a work-related TBI claim.

The challenges of any TBI claim begin with verbiage. Although often used interchangeably, an injury to the head is not synonymous with a TBI, which requires actual insult to the brain to cause the hallmark symptoms of headaches, confusion, and dizziness.