Financial Impact of a Traumatic Brain Injury

Suffering a traumatic brain injury is life changing. Not only do you have to contend with your injury and any future impact of it (depending on the severity), there’s also the unfortunate reality of the accompanying financial issues stemming from the incident.

So what is a traumatic brain injury? In its simplest definition it is any injury that causes a disruption to the function of your brain. This can mean a blow to the head or a jolt for example. It could even be a foreign object invading your brain tissue. Traumatic brain injuries differ in both severity and resulting impact on the individual, which makes it tough for doctors to provide a sufficient prognosis – especially early on after the initial incident. They range from mild to severe, and can cause changes to a patient’s mental state and personality, long and short term.

Of course, no price can be put on the emotional and psychological trauma associated with recovering and living with such a brain injury, but relieving the financial burden is imperative to recovery. If the patient needs specialist care (such as physiotherapy) and is unable to work, then their needs have to be taken care of. Loved ones may also have to give up work in order to care for their family member, which is another additional financial worry.

There is no ‘set price’ for the monetary cost of having a traumatic brain injury, as each case is incredibly unique and dependent on a host of different variables. It will depend completely on the patient’s case, which is why if you’re seeking a financial claim from an insurance company, you need to have expert representation to ensure you receive the correct amount. Here are some things to consider:

• The average adult with a brain injury has a 60 percent chance of still being unemployed two years after the incident.
• Costs average from $85,000 to $3,000,000 for a patient’s treatment over their lifetime.
• If you have the initial support and aftercare, the chances of being employed afterwards rise.
• The long-term impact of an injury is dependent on many factors, including cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral.

If anyone you know has been affected by a traumatic brain injury, the last thing you want during this difficult time is to have to deal with monetary troubles. Ensure you know your rights and be sure to seek help to ensure you and your loved ones are properly taken care of, both now and long into the future.