Traumatic brain injury can occur anywhere. The associated costs are staggering. Media spotlights brain injuries when celebrities and professional athletes discuss their struggles. They don’t capture the full magnitude of challenges faced by the rest of society who suffer from TBIs.
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What is Traumatic Brain Injury?
Our skulls protect the brain from everyday bumps and bruises. The brain can be damaged permanently or temporarily if the skull is broken or the head is hit so hard that the brain hits the inside of it.
The brain is responsible for how we think, move, communicate and function as humans. Each part of the human brain has a specific function, and the location where the injury occurs will determine the disability.
TBI can be caused by:
- Sports injuries, particularly in sports with high contact such as football, rugby and hockey
- Car accidents can result in many injuries including internal and exterior trauma to the brain.
- Falls are possible at any age, but they are more common among older adults, uncoordinated children, people living in cold climates and people working physical jobs that involve ladders and heavy machinery.
- Violence Physical, including child abuse, domestic violence and other violent crimes.
- Military servicecan be a demanding experience, just as living in war zones abroad and at home can be.
What are the costs associated with TBIs
Injury-related costs over a patient’s life can reach $4 million. TBIs cost the U.S. $7 trillion per year.
These are some examples of TBI costs.
- Emergency Trauma stabilization: First, it is important to save lives and avoid further injury. This includes ambulance rides, emergency helicopters and doctors, hospitalizations, and surgeries to stabilize injuries, repair damage or relieve pressure.
- Post Trauma Examinations After stabilizing the patient, it is time to determine the extent and severity of the damage. This includes in-depth exams, nerve conduction testing, cognitive evaluations and evaluations of speech and communication abilities, motor function tests and other tests.
- Rehabilitation Care: The hard work of recovery starts with inpatient or outpatient therapy. This is to relearn skills lost, strengthen muscles that are weak, recover from injuries and other related injuries, and to return the victim to their daily routines, if possible.
- Adaptation care:If a patient has a permanent disability, this stage will help them achieve a decent standard of living. If they are unable to perform the same job as before, they may have to change careers. Braces and wheelchairs are useful for restoring muscle strength or mobility. Patients who are unable to perform basic daily tasks such as feeding themselves or dressing themselves will require a long-term facility or home caregivers. You may need to modify your home or purchase medical equipment. These modifications could include wheelchair-accessible showers and ramps.
- Lost Earnings:If a person cannot work while in rehab, then they will lose the money that they would have earned during those days. If a person is permanently disabled, they will lose all the money they would have made up until retirement.
- Memory care-If a patient is able to walk but has memory loss, they might need to be moved to a facility that provides memory care. They could also forget important things, such as turning off the stove. Taking medications incorrectly, or in excess or too often can also put them at risk.
- Final Costs: In the event of a severe TBI leading to death, many costs will arise.
How can I afford to care for my loved one?
Unfortunately, not all people have $4 million extra lying around to cover potential costs associated with a TBI. Two scenarios are possible for dealing with the costs of a TBI:
- Find a personal injury lawyer if someone else is responsible for your injury. For example, a drunken driver crashed into your car. Search for “TBI lawyer near me” and “traumatic brain injury attorney nearby”. You can also contact us here to receive a free consultation.
- Here are some things to know if it’s just an accident and no one was at fault:
A lawyer with experience will not only fight to protect your rights to medical care and reimbursement of medical expenses, but will also consider the costs you will face in the future to determine what ongoing care may be necessary. You can also recover lost wages due to an injury.
- You will be responsible for the remaining costs. Your medical insurance plan will cover all of your expenses according to what you have purchased. If you are on a budget, choosing a comprehensive policy with a low deductible may be expensive. You have to balance what you can pay today with what you might need in the future.
- COBRA is a temporary option that allows you to continue your group medical plan if you have lost your job and are looking for other options.
- Medicaid, Social Security disability insurance (SSDI), supplemental security income (SSI), as well as other programs, depending on the severity of your disability and your financial resources, are also options.
To Wrap Up
Nobody wants to suffer a TBI, or see a loved-one struggle with a traumatic brain injury. Understanding the costs will help you to know what you can expect if you or a loved one suffers from traumatic brain injuries.
The article Traumatic Brain Injury: The Financial Burden first appeared on Las Vegas personal injury attorneys.