Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are some of the most severe injuries possible. Most people categorize TBIs as catastrophic injuries because they cause permanent limitations in many cases. Those with moderate to severe TBIs may develop lifetime symptoms that affect them in numerous ways.
People often focus so much on the immediate challenges of living with a brain injury that they fail to properly consider the economic impact of their injuries. A TBI can be a financially devastating injury that forever alters someone’s economic circumstances. The following are the common, primary ways in which a brain injury might create financial pressure for someone who has been hurt in this way.
Lifetime medical costs
Depending on someone’s age, the extent of their injury and the type of symptoms they develop, they may require an assortment of high-cost medical treatments. Emergency surgery is often the first treatment option available. Surgeries can help alleviate the pressure on the brain and prevent the condition from rapidly worsening after the initial trauma. From there, people may need support as they recover from the injury and rehabilitative services. The lifetime care costs of a TBI can range from tens of thousands of dollars to millions of dollars depending on a number of different variables.
Accommodation needs
Those with brain injuries may have an assortment of different symptoms. Some people develop vertigo. Others have issues with emotional regulation or memory. Challenges with gross and fine motor skills are also common. People may require modifications to their homes or vehicles that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Every time they purchase a new vehicle or buy a new home, they may need to make the same modifications again, leading to a lifetime of significant expenses.
Employment setbacks
Brain injuries can affect personality, cognitive function and physical capabilities. Regardless of what type of career an individual pursues, they may experience major professional setbacks because of their injuries. In some cases, they may become incapable of working at all and may need to recoup a lifetime of lost wages. Other times, the injury might diminish someone’s capabilities. They can work, but they end up working a lower-paid job. People can lose out on tens of thousands of dollars or more every year that they remain in a professional environment after their initial injury.
The unfortunate reality is that TBIs often cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, possibly more. It is sometimes necessary to initiate a personal injury lawsuit when seeking compensation for a brain injury. Understanding the likely lifetime costs of an injury can help people find ways to cover those losses through insurance or litigation.