An injury to the brain can cause serious and lasting damage to a victim. If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury in an auto accident, fall, act of violence, or other circumstances, you may be facing a lifetime of related complications. Understanding the common long-term costs of brain injuries could allow your family to seek the financial compensation that you deserve through the civil justice system. For more information about recovering financially from the long-term effects of a brain injury, contact an Omaha brain injury attorney.
Permanent Disability
A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, can affect a victim both physically and psychologically. The brain is responsible for how the mind and body operate. Damage to any part of the brain could result in permanent impairment or symptoms that interfere with the survivor’s life, such as:
- Memory loss
- Chronic pain or headaches
- Cognitive difficulties
- Trouble communicating
- Lack of focus or concentration
- Motor dysfunction
- Vision or hearing impairment
- Mood or personality changes
A brain injury survivor may or may not make a full physical recovery. Many TBI patients have permanent disabilities that require long-term or live-in care. Lasting symptoms can require expensive ongoing medical care in addition to affecting a survivor mentally and emotionally.
Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
Two of the most common types of long-term medical care required for a traumatic brain injury are physical therapy and rehabilitation. Physical therapy aims to improve the body’s physical function, while rehabilitation addresses the victim’s mental and cognitive states. These are also two of the most expensive medical costs associated with a TBI.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average lifetime economic cost of a TBI is $95.8 billion in 2021 dollars. This estimate includes direct and indirect medical costs, costs associated with emergency medical care, long-term rehabilitation, lost work time and productivity, lost earnings, and costs associated with social services.
Lost Capacity to Earn
Many brain injury victims cannot return to work after their incidents. They may need a period of recovery, such as a few weeks or months of medical care and rehabilitation, to go back to their jobs. Others can never return to the jobs they held before their injuries. Permanent brain injuries can interfere with the ability to perform the essential functions of a job. The victim may return to work in a different capacity, such as part-time or for a different job that pays less, or the victim may be permanently unemployed. The long-term lost capacity to earn a living can cost a victim millions of dollars in lifetime lost wages and employment benefits.
Loss of Personal Enjoyment
The long-term costs of a brain injury are not only physical and financial; brain injuries also impact how a victim thinks and feels. A lasting or permanent brain injury can cause a victim significant physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, psychological harm, and inconvenience. It can also result in diagnosable mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, that decrease a victim’s quality of life. In Nebraska, it is possible to seek financial compensation for the noneconomic costs of a traumatic brain injury as well as the economic.
Can You Recover Financially for Your Losses?
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a brain injury after a preventable accident in Omaha, Nebraska, contact an Omaha personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal options. You may be eligible for financial compensation for your short- and long-term associated costs from a defendant, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The value of your case will depend on the severity of your brain injury and how much it will impact your life. Discuss your case with an attorney before settling with an insurance company to make sure you are recovering fair and full financial compensation.