People can develop brain injuries in numerous different ways. They could fall because of poor facility maintenance at an apartment building or business. They could get knocked down and injured by an aggressive dog. Car crashes or sudden product failures could also potentially lead to a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Brain injuries range from mild, temporary injuries to severe, debilitating injuries. Someone with a TBI can expect massive economic losses related to their diagnosis. What makes a brain injury so expensive?
Healthcare costs
Just the process of diagnosing a brain injury can cost someone thousands of dollars. The specialized imaging tests necessary to diagnose a brain injury can have large price tags attached. The treatment that someone requires can quickly become incredibly expensive. People may need to undergo surgery to relieve the swelling on their brains. They may require rehabilitative care as they relearn certain functions. The cost of treating a brain injury over the course of someone’s lifetime can range from $85,000 to millions of dollars in some cases.
Accommodations for daily life
Even with occupational therapy and other medical care, those with moderate to severe brain injuries may have lasting symptoms. They may therefore require changes to their homes or to their vehicles to make them safer and more accessible. People may need to make a vehicle accessible by wheelchair or drivable with their hands only. They may need to alter their living space as well. Those basic accommodations can cost tens of thousands of dollars depending on someone’s specific needs.
Lost earning capacity
What someone earns is a reflection of their physical capabilities, professional experience and acquired knowledge. Brain injuries can affect motor function, personality and memory. They can alter decision-making and otherwise diminish someone’s job performance. Many people adjusting to life with a TBI have to prepare for changes in their employment. People may need to move to less demanding professions where wages are lower or cease working altogether in some cases.
People need to understand the financial consequences of a brain injury if they hope to obtain appropriate compensation given their losses. Working to estimate the financial impact of a TBI can help people better handle a personal injury claim to cover the costs that another party’s negligence has inspired.
