New York and New Jersey construction workers are a hardy lot – men and women who are accustomed to harsh conditions and dangerous machinery and equipment. In addition, they tend to have a great worth ethic and often cannot afford to lose money by missing work. When you put all of that together, you get workers who frequently ignore symptoms that occur after a workplace accident.

While it may be commendable to “work through the pain,” that philosophy can lead to serious, even life-threatening, medical conditions.

A construction worker who has an accident should not ignore these symptoms:

• Dizziness –Feeling dizzy or feeling as though your balance is off can be a sign of a traumatic brain injury or inner ear injury – both of which can be very dangerous if left untreated.
• Confusion/Memory Loss – if you feel confused or notice a loss of short- or long-term memory, have a thorough medical examination immediately. These could be signs of a stroke, brain injury or other serious problem.
• Numbness/Tingling – Both numbness and tingling are common symptoms of a neurological injury or a spinal injury.
• Swelling – Even a minor accident can cause swelling for a brief time after the accident; however, swelling that does not go away or that worsens should be checked out immediately.
• Shortness of breath – This can be a sign of a serious internal injury. Victims often think they are fine after an accident but learn later that they have internal injuries that could be life-threatening.
• Fever – When your body is fighting an infection you will usually run a fever. A fever that lasts more than 48 hours or that exceeds 102 degrees in an adult should be checked out by a physician. Even a small cut can cause a potentially life-threatening infection.

If you are a construction worker who has been injured in a workplace accident and you exhibit any of these symptoms, seek medical treatment immediately. If your injuries are work-related, they should be covered by either workers’ compensation of a third-party lawsuit.

If you are concerned about your legal rights, contact the New York/New Jersey accident attorneys at Ginarte Gonzalez Winograd L.L.P., to explore your options. With seven offices conveniently located in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, we have an office near you. For your free consultation, call 888-446-2783 or fill out our online contact form.