Any car accident brings with it financial burdens. Minor fender benders may require vehicle repairs, a trip to the doctor, and maybe a couple of days of lost income. More severe wrecks, such as those causing a traumatic brain injury (TBI), bring much more extensive financial burdens. Medical costs may be significant and ongoing, patients often require long-term rehabilitation, and many TBI patients are unable to work or must work lower-paying jobs after their injury.
Traumatic brain injury is a type of brain injury and damage that happens when there is sudden trauma to the brain. TBI can be the result of an object piercing the skull and entering the brain, or can come from the head violently making contact with an object, causing the brain to hit the inside of the skull. It may occur in a car accident, bicycle accident, motorcycle accident, pedestrian accident, or any other type of accident.
TBIs range from mild to moderate to severe. The severity of the TBI is determined by the amount of brain damage. Similarly, the financial costs of traumatic brain injury can range considerably based on the severity of the injury and the symptoms and effects of the injury.
What are the short- and long-term effects of TBI?
People who suffer a TBI can experience cognitive, motor and emotional problems, and problems with the five senses.
Memory loss and inability to maintain attention are common after a TBI. Motor problems can include weakness in the arms and legs, and difficulty with balance and coordination. Some patients may experience personality changes; anger issues, depression and anxiety lead the list of emotional changes that can occur after a TBI. TBI can also result in a person not being able to understand language or to communicate. These effects can be short-lived, though for many patients, they last for months or years or are permanent.
In addition to the medical costs to address the physical effects of the injury, patients may also face costs to address the emotional or cognitive problems, from speaking with a therapist to requiring speech therapy. And these effects may also limit the patient’s ability to work, at least in the short-term and often in the long-term.
TBIs and Earning Capacity
The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) did a study of the financial impact from the point of the injury to one year following. They found that the percentage of people employed went from 69 percent to 31 percent from the time of injury to a year later. The percentage of those unemployed went from 11 percent to 49 percent. They also found that the average earned monthly income dropped by 51 percent, from $1,491 to $726.
Get Help Valuing Your Case and Fighting for Compensation
On average, 1.4 million people in the United States are treated for traumatic brain injury annually. This number only includes the people who have an emergency room visit, hospitalization or death from TBI. It does not include people treated at doctors' offices or in hospital outpatient facilities, people treated in military facilities, or people whose TBI is undiagnosed or otherwise untreated.
It is a more common injury than a lot of people think. After a car accident, make sure you receive proper medical care for a thorough evaluation and diagnosis. Max Meyers Law helps patients get compensation for the expenses and losses associated with their injuries. This means considering the short- and long-term effects of the injury.
Remember, once you settle your case, you cannot reopen it. So make sure you work with a lawyer at Max Meyers Law to properly value your case and fight for the full amount of compensation you deserve. Call us at 425-399-7000 to set up a consultation to discuss your case.