Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the most devastating injuries anyone can suffer in an accident. Not only are the immediate consequences severe — memory loss, confusion, pain, etc. — but the long-term complications can change the entire trajectory of someone’s life.
While the majority of TBIs are relatively mild and are typically fully healed after rest and recovery at home, a significant percentage require hospitalization. According to the CDC, more than 200,000 people were hospitalized for this type of injury in 2020, the most recently available data.
If you or a loved one recently suffered a TBI, it’s understandable how you could want to know how such an impairment is going to affect your finances long-term. Keep reading, where we’ll address some of those concerns that impact the lifelong costs of a traumatic brain injury that you may have.
Common Causes of Brain-Damaging Injuries
A recent study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) suggests that the largest demographic that suffers from TBIs is older adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19. A large percentage of these injuries occur while playing contact sports and in military service, but a significant number also occur from motor vehicle accidents and falls.
Newborn infants are another group at risk of suffering a severe brain injury. Widely available online statistics show that around 3 per 1,000 newborns suffer from some form of brain damage. The causes of newborn brain damage include:
- Untreated jaundice (kernicterus)
- Oxygen deprivation (hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy or HIE)
- Swelling around the scalp
- Cerebrospinal fluid buildup (hydrocephalus)
- Misuse of assisted vaginal birth instruments (forceps or vacuum suction cups)
In far too many cases, traumatic brain injuries are caused by someone else’s mistake or maliciousness.
Why should this data alarm you? It shows that mere babies and children can suffer these types of injuries, leaving them impacted for a lifetime.
Factors That Impact How Much Costs You Can Expect To Incur After Suffering a TBI
Multiple factors come into play when calculating the long-term costs associated with a severe TBI, not the least of which is the age of the injured person.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 32% of all TBI-related hospitalizations are from people aged 75 years. The latter age group also accounts for 28% of all TBI-related fatalities.
The lifetime cost for people in this age bracket can still be high given the frequency of severe injuries of this type, but it can exponentially increase the younger the injury occurs.
How Your Age and Degree of Impairment Correlates to Brain Injury Treatment Costs
Given the myriad factors at play, such as age, severity, ability to work, etc., it’s extremely difficult to calculate the exact long-term cost of a TBI. Depending on the severity and age of the injured person, the lifetime cost could range from tens of thousands of dollars to well into the millions.
Why You Need a Kansas Attorney’s Support If You Suffered a TBI
In cases where legal action is taken to secure compensation, determining and fighting for the damages associated with these types of injuries is a key reason why it’s so important to work with a law firm you can trust to represent you in your time of need. An experienced brain injury attorney will understand the potential complications that could arise later on and will fight to secure you the maximum compensation possible.
If you or someone you love suffered a TBI because of someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or wrongful actions, you may be able to seek compensation. If you are considering taking legal action, contact Prochaska, Howell & Prochaska LLC to discuss your case today. Our TBI lawyers have spent decades fighting for the rights of our clients and are ready and waiting to use that experience to secure you the compensation you deserve.
