# Boston Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer ## Boston Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer Real Help for Serious Head Injuries [Free Consultation](https://attorneysheehan.com/contact-us) [Case Results](https://attorneysheehan.com/case-results) - Law office of John J. Sheehan - / - Workers' Compensation - /boston-workers-compensation-lawyer - Workers’ Compensation Lawyer for a Brain Injury ## Wins for Our Clients [More Results](https://attorneysheehan.com/case-results) ## What You Need to Know About Workplace Traumatic Brain Injuries A head injury at work can affect memory, focus, mood, balance, sleep, speech, and the ability to return to the same job. Even a concussion can disrupt daily life long after the accident. Workers’ compensation may pay medical bills and partial wage benefits. But a third-party claim may also allow recovery for pain and suffering, full wage loss, future medical and therapeutic care, and reimbursement for future reduced earning ability. The [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/traumatic-brain-injury/data-research/index.html) reports approximately 214,110 **TBI-related hospitalizations** in 2020 and **68,663 TBI-related deaths** in 2023. Those figures do not include many TBIs treated only in emergency departments, urgent care, primary care, or not treated at all. ## Types of Brain Injury Cases We Handle in Boston Attorney John J. Sheehan uses his advanced knowledge to represent workers and accident victims with serious head injuries across Boston and Massachusetts. A concussion may be called “mild” on paper, but the symptoms can interfere with work, driving, sleep, and family life. Headaches, dizziness, light sensitivity, brain fog, and memory issues should not be dismissed. - Concussions Some people continue to struggle weeks or months after the accident. Ongoing headaches, fatigue, trouble concentrating, irritability, and sleep disruption can affect job performance and earning capacity. - Post-Concussion Symptoms A blow to the head can cause bleeding, swelling, or pressure inside the skull. These injuries may require emergency care, imaging, hospitalization, surgery, and long-term follow-up. - Brain Bleeds and Swelling A fractured skull can involve bleeding, nerve damage, seizures, infection risk, and lasting neurological problems. - Skull Fractures A serious TBI may cause permanent cognitive, emotional, physical, or speech-related impairments. These cases often require future medical planning, vocational evidence, and strong proof of lost earning capacity. - Moderate and Severe TBIs When a workplace accident or third-party act causes a fatal brain injury, the family may have workers’ compensation death-benefit rights and a separate wrongful death claim, depending on the facts. - Fatal Brain Injuries ## Work Accidents Our Boston TBI Lawyer Commonly Handles Brain injuries happen in many types of workplace and construction accidents, including: - [**Falls from heights**](https://attorneysheehan.com/boston-construction-site-fall-lawyer)**:** aLadders, roofs, scaffolds, staging, lifts, and unprotected edges; - **Falling objects:** Tools, beams, debris, building materials, and unsecured loads; - **Struck-by equipment accidents:** Forklifts, loaders, cranes, trucks, and jobsite machinery; - **Work-related vehicle crashes:** Delivery routes, construction vehicles, company cars, and third-party drivers; - **Slips, trips, and falls:** Wet floors, ice, debris, uneven surfaces, and unsafe walkways; - **Workplace assaults:** Blows to the head during a job-related assault; - **Equipment failures:** Defective ladders, scaffolds, helmets, lifts, machinery, or safety gear. NIOSH reports that work-related TBIs account for 20% to 25% of work-related trauma and that the [construction industry](https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/bulletin/2022/construction-helmets.html) has the greatest number of fatal and nonfatal work-related TBIs among U.S. workplaces. NIOSH also notes that construction workers face TBI risks from falling or flying objects and falls from elevation, with falls from roofs, ladders, and scaffolds leading to more than half of fatal work-related TBIs. ## Symptoms Are Evidence. Start Tracking Them Now. Headaches, dizziness, memory problems, mood changes, sleep issues, and confusion can shape the value of a TBI claim. A traumatic brain injury lawyer in Boston can help document symptoms before the injurer argues they are unrelated. ## Your Two Legal Pathways: Workers’ Compensation AND Third-Party Claim Lawsuits A workplace TBI may involve more than one claim. If the injury occurred while on the clock, workers’ compensation can provide medical care and some wage benefits. A third-party lawsuit, however, may be available when someone other than your direct employer caused or contributed to the accident. Workers’ Compensation Third-Party Lawsuit Filed through the employer’s workers’ comp insurer Filed against a negligent contractor, property owner, driver, equipment company, or other outside party No-Fault based — no need to prove employer fault Fault-based — requires proof of negligence, unsafe conduct, or legal responsibility Pays reasonable and necessary medical care Can include full medical damages, future care, pain and suffering, and loss of earning capacity Pays partial wage replacement Can pursue broader financial losses Does not pay pain and suffering Can include pain and suffering, plus loss of consortium money damages for your spouse Often starts sooner May take longer, but can provide a full financial recovery [Massachusetts law (Section 30)](https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXXI/Chapter152/Section30) requires the workers’ compensation insurer to furnish adequate and reasonable health care services and needed medicines for an injured employee. If the injury was caused by someone other than the insured employer, though, [Massachusetts law (Section 15)](https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXXI/Chapter152/Section15) allows the employee to receive workers’ compensation benefits and also pursue liability against that outside party. ### Who Can Be Liable for a Workplace TBI A third-party claim may involve: - General contractors - Subcontractors - Property owners - Equipment manufacturers - Equipment rental companies - Maintenance companies - Delivery drivers or commercial vehicle companies - Other contractors on the jobsite This is where an experienced Boston brain injury lawyer can make a major difference: the attorney must separate what workers’ comp pays from what a third-party lawsuit may recover. ## When Safety Failures Cause Brain Injuries Many TBIs are preventable. A fall, a falling object, a missing guardrail, an unsafe scaffold, a defective ladder, an unmarked floor opening, or a poorly controlled work zone can leave a worker with lifelong symptoms. **A traumatic brain injury lawyer in Boston will look for:** - Missing or defective fall protection - Unsafe scaffolds, ladders, lifts, or platforms - Unguarded holes or floor openings - Falling-object hazards - Missing helmets or wrong helmet type - Lack of site supervision - Unsafe work sequencing between trades - Defective tools, machinery, or equipment - Prior complaints or ignored hazards - OSHA reports, photos, witness accounts, and safety records The goal is to connect the injury to the safety failure and identify every party that had the power to prevent the accident. ## Brain Injury Symptoms That Should Be Documented TBI symptoms can appear right away or hours or days later. The CDC states that mild [TBI and concussion symptoms](https://www.cdc.gov/traumatic-brain-injury/signs-symptoms/index.html) may affect how a person feels, thinks, acts, or sleeps. Document symptoms such as: - Headaches - Dizziness or balance problems - Vision problems - Nausea or vomiting - Fatigue - Light or noise sensitivity - Trouble concentrating - Memory problems - Brain fog - Slowed thinking - Irritability - Anxiety - Mood changes - Sleep problems - Slurred speech - Seizures - Confusion or unusual behavior Emergency care is needed for danger signs such as a worsening headache that won’t go away, repeated vomiting, seizures, weakness, numbness, slurred speech, unusual behavior, confusion, loss of consciousness, or inability to wake up. ## Find Out Who Had the Power to Prevent the Accident Struggling with a brain injury? Our experienced Boston traumatic injury attorney operates on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing unless we win compensation for you. [Free Consultation](https://attorneysheehan.com/contact-us) ## Featured Reviews [More Client Testimonials](https://attorneysheehan.com/testimonials) ## How We Build Brain Injury Claims Insurers Try to Shrink Our Boston traumatic injury lawyers look at the force behind the injury: a fall, a falling object, a vehicle crash, an equipment strike, a ladder collapse, or an unsafe jobsite situation. The accident details help show why the injury is serious, even if the first diagnosis says “concussion”. - We Pin Down How the Head Injury Happened Brain injury symptoms can appear or worsen over days. We track headaches, dizziness, memory issues, sleep problems, mood changes, confusion, and trouble concentrating from the first report through follow-up treatment. - We Build a Symptom Timeline The question is not only “What did the doctor diagnose?” It is also “What can you no longer do?” Our traumatic injury lawyers document missed work, job restrictions, reduced earning capacity, safety risks, and your ability to return to the same work. - We Tie the TBI to Your Job Losses Workers’ comp may cover medical care and part of your wages. But if a contractor, property owner, driver, equipment company, or subcontractor caused the accident, our Boston traumatic injury lawyers also look for a third-party claim that may pay for pain and suffering and future losses. - We Look Beyond Workers’ Comp Photos, videos, witness names, incident reports, equipment records, and jobsite conditions can vanish quickly. Our traumatic injury lawyers in Boston move early so the insurer does not control the story. - We Protect the Proof Before It Disappears ## Meet Our Team Since 1993, Attorney John Sheehan has represented injured workers and accident victims across Massachusetts, fighting for justice against powerful insurers and corporations. Fluent in Spanish and deeply involved in Boston’s Hispanic community, John has earned a reputation for listening, explaining complex legal matters, and securing maximum compensation for his clients. Behind John is a strong team of legal professionals who share one goal: providing each client with direct counsel and relentless advocacy. With decades of legal experience, we approach each case with the understanding that every injury and every person is unique. [Learn More John J. Sheehan](https://attorneysheehan.com/about-us/john-j-sheehan) ## Serving Brain Injury Victims Throughout Massachusetts - Lawrence - /lawrence - Methuen - Haverhill - Lynn - /lynn - Chelsea - /chelsea - Revere - Everett - /everett - Malden - /malden [More Cities We Cover](https://attorneysheehan.com/areas-we-serve) - Wakefield Office - Law Office of John J. Sheehan, LLC
607 North, Ave, Suite 2A-12
Wakefield, MA 01880 - https://maps.app.goo.gl/NUPVcyWKsJTdaFmS7 - Boston Office - Law Office of John J. Sheehan, LLC
 10 Tremont St. Suite 309 Boston, MA 02108 - https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZJScxjs87sYejC2K7 ## Frequently Asked Questions About Boston Traumatic Brain Injury Claims “Mild” is a medical category, not a description of how the injury feels in real life. A so-called mild TBI can still cause headaches, memory problems, dizziness, sleep disruption, mood changes, and trouble working. The claim should focus on what changed after the accident, not just the label in the first medical note. - Why does the insurance company keep calling my brain injury “mild”? That can happen with head injuries. Many people feel shocked, embarrassed, or determined to keep working right after the accident. Symptoms may become clearer after the first night, the first work shift, or the first time you try to drive, read, climb, lift, or follow instructions. Report the change to a doctor and tell your lawyer when each symptom started. - What if my symptoms got worse after I went home? **Yes.** Loss of consciousness can support a brain injury claim, but it is not required. Many concussion and TBI cases involve confusion, dizziness, memory gaps, nausea, balance problems, or changes in behavior without a full blackout. - Can I have a TBI claim if I never blacked out? A CT scan or MRI may rule out bleeding, swelling, or fracture, but it does not always capture the full effect of a concussion or mild TBI. Medical records, specialist evaluations, neuropsychological testing, work restrictions, family observations, and symptom history may still support the claim. - What if the scan did not show brain damage? Yes, if the symptoms are tied to the work injury. The insurer may dispute the connection, especially if the first medical record is vague. That is why it helps to report every symptom clearly and consistently: headaches, dizziness, confusion, memory issues, vision problems, sleep changes, mood changes, and trouble concentrating. - Can I get workers’ comp for headaches, memory problems, or dizziness after a work accident? The value usually rises when the injury affects long-term work ability, requires ongoing treatment, causes permanent symptoms, prevents a return to the same job, or supports a third-party claim against someone besides the employer. Future medical care and reduced earning capacity can become major parts of the case. - What makes a workplace TBI case worth more? Track symptoms daily. Include headaches, dizziness, nausea, sleep, memory mistakes, mood changes, missed work, trouble driving, trouble reading, and anything your family notices. Also, keep accident reports, medical notes, work restrictions, pay records, and names of witnesses. - What should I write down after a brain injury? **Yes.** Immigration status does not erase the right to pursue workers’ compensation after a job injury. The project plan also identifies this as a key issue for Spanish-speaking construction workers and notes that immigration status does not affect eligibility for workers’ comp or the right to pursue a personal injury claim. - Can undocumented workers bring a workplace brain injury claim? ## The Injury Is in Your Head. The Financial Damage Is Everywhere. A traumatic brain injury can affect your paycheck, your medical care, your memory, your ability to pay your bills and put food on your family’s table, and your entire future. Attorney John J. Sheehan will use his advanced knowledge and skill to build a claim that accounts for the full impact — not just the first emergency room bill. --- Law Office of John J. Sheehan — [https://attorneysheehan.com/boston-workplace-traumatic-brain-injury-lawyer](https://attorneysheehan.com/boston-workplace-traumatic-brain-injury-lawyer)