We can help you claim
compensation following an accident
illness or injury - nationwide
Call: 0800 10 757 95
Workers in industrial settings, such as those who work in construction, in factories or in mining, have a higher than average risk of sustaining a head injury – a reality that is reflected in the figures for industrial injury compensation claims.
However, although the immediate impact of a head injury is often apparent, whether as a mild-seeming concussion or a cognitively impairing brain injury, the long-term insidious effects are less easy to measure.
For many years there has been strong anecdotal evidence to suggest that even milder seeming injuries such as those incurred in falls from height, as a result of being struck by a falling object or as a consequence of explosions, had the effect of causing injury and debilitation in later life.
Surprisingly, much of the science to support this theory has come not from researchers investigating the effects of head injuries on workers in industrial settings, but from those engaged in researching the effects of head injuries and concussions in sports such as association football, American football, boxing and the two rugby codes.
For example, in the 1990s a former Celtic footballer attempted to claim industrial injury compensation for Alzheimer's and neurodegenerative disease caused by repeatedly heading the ball. Although an industrial injury tribunal ruled that his condition had been caused by "part of the job [as a footballer]" and was therefore not an industrial injury, medical experts supported his claim and the link between repeated impact to the head and later neurodegenerative disease.
However, in 2011 scientists in Glasgow, Scotland and the USA successfully showed there was a link between head injury in younger life and the early onset of range of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimers.
The study's authors commented, "Quite remarkably, a proportion of patients with a single head injury had widespread and large amounts of markers in their brains which are normally only seen in the very elderly or in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
"This study may be significant in terms of understanding dementia. In the vast majority of cases we do not currently know what triggers the process leading to dementia.
"However, if we know when this process may begin, such as with a head injury, we can learn more about it and this could lead to new and more effective treatments."
Personal injury solicitors speculated that the results of the study could lead to long-latency period head injury claims being made in the future, as many as 30 or 40 years after the date of accident – some even compared the slow and inevitable pathology of neurodegenerative disease to asbestos cancers such as mesothelioma.
Claim compensation for industrial injury
Poor workplace health and safety can cause industrial accidents, industrial injuries and industrial diseases such as VWF, tinnitus and deafness.
If you have suffered injury or illness as a result of poor working conditions, you may be entitled to claim 100% compensation for your pain, suffering, medical expenses and lost earnings.
Our personal injury lawyers specialize in ensuring maximum industrial injury compensation for deserving claimants.
Win or lose, we provide a completely charge-free service and never take a cut from any settlement awarded.
If you would like to make enquiries today, call a legal advisor on 0800 10 757 95 or on the mobile-friendly 0333 240 0871.
Alternatively, use our Live-help service on this web page.
