Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can cause devastating, lifelong disabilities and can ruin an injury victim’s financial security. In addition to the rising cost of medical treatments, prescription drugs, and physical therapy, there are many other hidden expenses associated with traumatic brain injuries.

If you or a loved one has suffered from a TBI and believe someone else’s negligence was the cause, you may be able to file a lawsuit and get compensation for your many TBI-related expenses. Working with an experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer is essential to ensuring you get the maximum compensation possible.

Physical Effects of TBIs

If someone you love suffered a TBI, they could experience various severe conditions as a result. These could significantly impact their lives, including their ability to work or live independently. 

Some of the severe complications arising from TBIs include:

  • Memory loss
  • Impaired problem-solving abilities
  • Speech or reading problems, sometimes including a complete loss
  • Paralysis
  • Muscle issues, including coordination problems
  • Problems with sight, hearing, tasting, or touching
  • Seizures

All of these effects come with an emotional and financial cost for the victim and their family.

Financial Effects of TBIs

The CDC calculates that the total economic impact of a severe TBI over a lifetime is $76.5 billion and could reach $3 million for an individual. These costs include more than just the initial medical treatment, and account for ongoing physical therapy, regular home care, alterations to the victim’s home or car, and lost wages. These expenses add up over time and can also affect immediate family members’ finances as well.

Our experienced Indianapolis brain surgery lawyers can help you calculate your past, current, and future expenses to create a realistic settlement sum for your injury.

Initial Medical Bills

The initial medical bills for a TBI may include your ER visit, any tests or operations performed, and prescription medicine you receive. However, while these bills may be high, they are often only a small portion of the total cost of your TBI.

Lost Wages

Many severe TBI sufferers cannot return to work for weeks, months, or ever. Depending on their job, they could require retraining, assistance, or other accommodations. For example, if someone who works as an engineer or an emergency responder suffers from concentration issues or memory problems, they may no longer be able to perform on the job the same way they once did. Those with physical issues like debilitating migraines or paralysis may be unable to continue working as construction workers or electricians.

Home Care

If your TBI has affected your loved one’s mobility or mental capacity, they may not be able to live independently. Depending on the severity of their condition, you might need to hire a home nurse to care for them when you’re at work or out of the house. Home nursing care is expensive and not always covered by insurance.

If your loved one cannot function at home alone, you may need to find them an alternative temporary or long-term living situation. There are day treatment centers, which can help provide the care required during the day while you work, or supervised living programs, where TBI victims receive the necessary care and rehabilitation full-time.

Long Term Hospitalization

In some cases, TBIs can necessitate long-term hospitalization, particularly if the victim suffers from a coma. These can last for years, creating high bills for the family. Additionally, if a victim is in the hospital for an extended stay, they often experience lost wages.

Rehabilitation

After a serious TBI, most victims require extensive rehabilitation. This process could involve physical rehabilitation, brain training, and retraining for a new career. TBI victims sometimes need to visit an extensive range of specialists, including neurologists, speech-language, physical, and occupational therapists, vocational rehabilitation therapists, and neuropsychologists.

All these specialists increase the financial burden of the TBI and could last for years.

Non-Economic Damages

The hidden costs of TBIs, although overwhelmingly financial, also include the emotional toll on you, your family, and loved ones. After a severe TBI, you and your family may be eligible for damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress and mental trauma, loss of enjoyment of life and diminished quality of life, and loss of companionship.  

Schedule Your Free Consultation Today

A TBI can have overwhelming consequences for the victim and their family. Contact the legal team at Wagner Reese, LLC, to schedule a free consultation and learn if you’re eligible for compensation. We’ll review your case, search for evidence, and defend your right to compensation in court.

For years, we have been a leading law firm in the fight for victims of negligence, including those involved in accidents resulting in severe brain injuries. Call our law firm today to learn how we can help you get the compensation you deserve.