How much will my medical expenses amount to if I suffer a traumatic brain injury?
The brain is an intricate and delicate organ within the body. When the brain suffers an injury, it can have serious effects on your senses, movement, speech, memory, and many other vital life functions. Traumatic brain injuries occur when the head suffers a sudden jolt which causes damage to the brain. The causes of traumatic brain injuries vary and include car accidents and sports injuries. Depending on the severity of the traumatic brain injury, the costs of a TBI can be tremendous. Our Los Angeles brain injury attorneys at Compass Law Group, LLP explore the causes and costs of a traumatic brain injury below.
TBI Statistics
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released some alarming statistics on traumatic brain injuries. According to the CDC, about 2.5 million people visit the emergency room for TBI injuries each year. Of these visits, nearly 300,000 will result in hospitalization and approximately 60,000 people will die.
TBI injuries vary widely in severity, with some minor injuries causing just short term symptoms. More severe injuries could leave victims with lifelong impairments, such as memory loss, seizures, weakness, issues with emotional regulation, depression, anxiety, vision loss, and much more. The most severe injuries could leave the victim in a coma or result in death.
TBI Causes
Traumatic brain injuries can have many causes. At times, a traumatic brain injury will be caused by the negligence of another person or organization. For example, some of the top causes of traumatic brain injuries include car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and truck accidents. Other common causes include sports injuries and falls. When the actions or inactions of another person lead to a traumatic brain injury, it could give rise to a personal injury claim.
Traumatic Brain Injury Medical Costs and Other Expenses
The costs of a traumatic brain injury will vary depending on the severity of the injury and its long term effects. Traumatic brain injuries will involve medical expenses, including hospital and doctor’s bills, prescription drug costs, and potentially rehabilitation expenses. TBI victims will often incur costs due to lost time at work. Serious TBIs could diminish the victim’s earning potential, leading to lifelong earnings losses. TBIs can further involve much pain and suffering. Given the potentially significant costs of a TBI, accident victims will want to explore the possibility of filing a personal injury lawsuit against the person responsible for their injuries. Contact a brain injury lawyer right away after your accident for an individualized assessment of your potential case.
