TBI And Your Recovery
Thankfully, many of the millions of accidents that occur on the country’s roads each year are relatively slight and lead to minor injuries. But some who are involved in accidents aren’t so lucky, and major injuries can occur that lead to significant hardship including high medical costs and long, difficult recovery times.
TBI Basics
Traumatic Brain Injuries, or TBIs, are among the most severe type of injuries that can be sustained in an accident. These are injuries that occur as a result of an impact to the head that damages the brain. There are also several different types of brain injuries, but most fall into either mild or severe categories.
Mild brain injuries are more common, but are often missed initially. They can trigger things like:
- Confusion or disorientation
- Headaches
- Trouble concentrating
- Mood swings
- Loss of consciousness
Some of these TBIs may create symptoms that last weeks, while some may last for years. They’re also the type of TBI that can take weeks before showing symptoms and may not even appear on an MRI or CAT scan at first.
Severe brain injuries are much more traumatic and can have a longer, more consequential impact on your life. These are the kinds of injuries that have lasting effects not only on the person who suffered from them, but on their loved ones as well.
Severe brain injuries can lead to numerous problems including:
- Comas
- Loss of memory
- Reduced ability to control motor functions
- Reduced cognitive function
- Loss of ability to think properly
- Emotional issues
- Abnormal speech
TBI causes 85,000 people to suffer long term disabilities every year, and roughly 50,000 people die from these types of injuries annually. More than 5 million are already living with a disability caused by a traumatic brain injury. These injuries impact not only those who suffer them, but their loved ones as well.
The Financial Factor
While there’s no question that the physical impact on one’s health is immense, TBI also has a major impact on the financial stability of the victim as well as on their entire family. Consider the following potential costs that it can bring with it:
- Medical bills that can continue to pile up for years due to long term care
- Loss of income – often a significant loss of income throughout many years to come
- Existing bills that mount due to inability to pay them because of the above factors
These are even more detrimental when the injury is suffered by the household’s primary breadwinner. While Florida’s PIP coverage that motorists carry and while worker’s comp could each cover those injured to some degree, the amount of benefits that are provided are generally not always enough to offset the high potential costs that come from the injuries.
Seeking compensation through a personal injury lawsuit could be needed for those who have suffered a TBI through the negligent or reckless actions of someone else. If it can be shown that fault lies with another party, getting compensation for your injuries or the injuries of a loved one is a very real possibility.
A good personal injury lawyer will be needed to adequately show that this fault exists, and as a result finding one that you can trust is important. Our team has decades of experience helping those who have suffered personal injuries including TBI. If you or someone you love has been injured in this way by the actions of someone else, contact us today to learn more about what options you may have to get the financial compensation needed to focus on your physical and mental recovery instead of worrying about paying the medical costs.
