Construction Accident Lawsuit Filed Over Traumatic Brain Injury

An Illinois man has filed a traumatic brain injury lawsuit alleging that he suffered severe psychological changes after being hit in the head during a construction accident that occurred when the arm of a telescoping crane suddenly broke.

The construction accident lawsuit was filed by Andrew Buckley on June 5 in St. Clair County Circuit Court of Illinois against Rhekemper & Sons, whose employees were operating the crane when the accident occurred, and the National Crane Company.

On July 11, 2007, Buckley suffered a traumatic brain injury after the arm of a crane at the construction site where he was working broke, dropping its load of bundled floor trusses. Some of the trusses ricocheted off other materials and struck Buckley in the head and chest.

According to The St. Clair Record, Buckley required reconstructive surgery to his face and sinuses as a result of the injuries sustained in the accident, and was left with an impaired ability to engage in ordinary activities and unable to work.

Traumatic brain injury is one of the leading causes of death and permanent disability in the world, with about 1.4 million people injured every year. Symptoms of a head injury may vary depending on the severity of the brain damage, but could include headaches, vomiting, nausea, lack of motor coordination, dizziness, difficulty balancing, blurred vision, convulsions or slurred speech.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction accidents account for the largest number of fatal work injuries of any industry in the private sector, with construction and extraction occupations accounting for 21 percent of all workplace fatalities in 2007.