How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 3,574 severe brain injury cases between 2015 and 2025. Intracranial injuries account for 100 percent of these reports.
A brain injury often results in long-term cognitive or physical impairment that can permanently limit your ability to return to your previous role. Because these injuries affect your central nervous system, the impact on your earning capacity and daily quality of life is frequently profound.
How these injuries happen
Falls are the primary driver of brain injuries, with other falls to a lower level accounting for 39 percent of reported cases. Whether you slip from a ladder or fall on the same level, the force of impact against constructed surfaces often leads to immediate and severe neurological damage.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Other fall to lower level | 1,328 |
| 2 | Fall on same level | 899 |
| 3 | Struck by falling object | 237 |
| 4 | Hitting, kicking, beating by other person | 147 |
| 5 | Nonroadway noncollision incident | 127 |
| 6 | Struck against stationary object | 77 |
| 7 | Struck by propelled object or substance | 74 |
| 8 | Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area | 61 |
Where injuries happen most
Construction accounts for 19 percent of all severe brain injuries, reflecting the high-risk nature of working at heights and around heavy machinery. Manufacturing follows at 16 percent, where you are frequently exposed to moving equipment and potential blunt force hazards.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports include sudden falls from heights, workplace violence resulting in blunt force trauma, and being struck by falling objects like HVAC ductwork. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident to determine if employer negligence contributed to your injury.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | PA | Manufacturing | "The injured employee was working from the cab of the debarker when a former employee approached. There was an argument and the former employee struck the injured employee in the head. The injured employee ended up on the ground as the former employee continued to hit him. The injured employee was bleeding from his head, had internal bleeding, and sustained a concussion." | |
| 2025 | MD | Construction | "An employee was on an A-frame ladder while preforming demolition of a ceiling. A section of HVAC ductwork fell on the employee and knocked them to the ground approximately 12 feet below. The employee was hospitalized with a concussion and lacerations." | |
| 2025 | AL | Manufacturing | "Two employees engaged in a verbal altercation. The injured employee was punched in the face and fell, hitting their head on the concrete floor. The employee sustained a brain bleed and blunt force trauma to the face." | |
| 2025 | MO | Health Care | "An employee was on the phone with his supervisor when a patient walked up and punched him. The employee was knocked to the floor and the patient kicked him multiple times causing injuries to his head, left cheek, left eye, mouth, and right hand. The employee sustained a traumatic brain injury/concussion and a left periorbital edema." | |
| 2025 | FL | Other Services | "An employee was ascending a ladder and slipped and fell to the ground, striking his head and back. The employee sustained a skull fracture with internal bleeding, two fractured vertebrae, and a fractured rib." | |
| 2025 | MA | Construction | "An employee was stripping siding when they fell 18 feet from a ladder to the ground. The employee sustained a possible head injury and was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | FL | Construction | "An employee was on a ladder, setting vertical columns, when he lost balance and fell approximately 15 feet to the ground, resulting in a concussion." | |
| 2025 | GA | Construction | "On July 25, 2025, an employee was walking on roof trusses when they fell 10 feet to the ground. The employee was hospitalized with a concussion and a back injury." | |
| 2025 | OH | Transportation & Warehousing | "On July 23, 2025, an employee was loading irregular packages into a truck. A pole that was being shipped fell from from an upright position and struck the employee on the head, resulting in a concussion." | |
| 2025 | WV | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was loading inflatable rafts onto a flatbed truck. The employee misstepped and fell from the truck, striking the left side of their head on a concrete pad and sustaining bruises to their left eye socket, hand, elbow, and knee, as well as a bloody nose. The employee was hospitalized with a concussion and a brain bleed." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, a concussion is a recognized medical condition that may qualify for Workers' Compensation benefits if it occurred during the course of your employment. These benefits are designed to cover medical treatment and a portion of lost wages while you recover. An attorney can help you document your diagnosis and ensure your claim includes the full extent of your neurological symptoms.
Falls from ladders are a leading cause of severe brain injuries, and employers are required to provide safe equipment and proper training. If your employer failed to provide a stable ladder or adequate fall protection, you may have a strong case for additional compensation. An attorney can help you investigate whether safety violations contributed to your fall.
Recovery times for brain injuries vary significantly depending on the severity of the trauma. You may return to work in weeks, or you may face long-term cognitive challenges that require ongoing therapy and accommodations. An attorney can help you understand how to account for potential long-term care needs in your Workers' Compensation claim.
Workplace violence is a serious issue, and injuries sustained during an assault while on the job are generally covered by Workers' Compensation. Even if the incident involved a third party or a coworker, you are entitled to seek benefits for your medical expenses and recovery. An attorney can help you navigate the complexities of a claim involving workplace violence.