My Loved One Is in a Coma After a Tampa Workplace Accident: What Can I Do?

Many workplace injuries can leave employees in a comatose state. These might include severe head injuries, and concerned loved ones might not know whether their relatives will ever regain consciousness. Often, families face the difficult decision of whether to remove their loved one from life support. If there is still hope, ongoing life-sustaining treatment can be expensive. What can you do in this situation? How do you pursue the compensation you need? Can a workers’ compensation lawyer in Tampa help?

What Type of Workplace Injuries Can Lead to Comas?

Many different workplace injuries can lead to comas, although all involve some kind of injury to the brain. Perhaps the most obvious example is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). This can lead to increased pressure on the brain, often due to intracranial hemorrhaging. A brain injury of this nature might occur after a slip and fall, car accident, or impact from a falling object.

Another potential cause is asphyxiation, or the loss of oxygen supply to the brain. This type of injury might occur after a trench cave-in at a construction site, which buries a worker and starves them of oxygen. A worker might also fall into a coma after being trapped in a poorly ventilated room.

Comas can also occur after toxic exposure. Again, this may be related to poor ventilation and the circulation of toxins in the air. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a particularly common threat in many workplaces. Finally, some people fall into comas after being electrocuted.

How Can I Get Compensation for My Loved One While They’re in a Coma? 

You can pursue compensation on your loved one’s behalf if you have a durable power of attorney or a healthcare surrogate document. If you do not have these documents, you might need to pursue a guardianship through the court. This would give you the necessary authority to make legal decisions on behalf of your loved one. If your loved one passes away or you remove them from life support, you can pursue death benefits without these additional legal steps.

This is something you might want to discuss further with a workers’ comp attorney before taking any further steps. Removing your loved ones from life support is a major decision, and you should be aware of all the various legal and financial implications before you proceed.

Can a Tampa Workers’ Comp Lawyer Help if My Loved One Is in a Coma?

If you’re caring for a loved one in a coma after a workplace accident, a Tampa workers’ comp lawyer may be able to help. You may have the option to pursue compensation on behalf of your loved one even if they show no signs of regaining consciousness anytime soon. If you choose to remove your loved one from life support, you may also have the opportunity to pursue death benefits or a wrongful death lawsuit. Contact The Franco Law Firm today for more information.

Sources: 

mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coma/symptoms-causes/syc-20371099

betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/coma#causes-of-coma