Hitting your head can happen so easily that you might not think it is a big deal if it happens to you. You might knock your head on a countertop bending over to lift a box, or something heavy might fall off an overhead shelf and strike you on the forehead. You could be knocked over by moving machinery or slip on a puddle and hit your head on the floor. If you can brush yourself off and get back to work, you might not think any more of the incident. However, it is important for you and other Californians to understand the possible complications of a head injury at work, no matter how minor it seems at first.

Concussions are a form of brain injury that can vary in severity and have multiple symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic, you could get a mild to moderate concussion from something as simple as slipping and falling or hitting your head on a shelf as you are turning the corner. Regardless of how you got your head injury, concussions are nothing to laugh at. In fact, you have a higher chance of subsequent concussions from minor strikes to the head if you have had one or more head injuries in the past.

Workers’ compensation should cover your expenses to see a doctor and get treatment for a concussion. It is important to see your doctor as soon as possible after hitting your head, especially if you lost consciousness for any length of time, are dizzy, confused, nauseated or have a headache lasting longer than a few days. You will most likely be told to rest for a few days and avoid strenuous physical and mental activity while your brain recovers.