There are many different ways that people can get hurt in car crashes. The violence of a collision can easily break bones, cause internal injuries or even damage someone’s spinal cord. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are also common after a car crash. The violent force of a collision may shake someone up enough that their brain ends up injured. They could also experience penetrating injuries or blunt force trauma that would potentially cause a TBI.
Those with major brain injuries after a car crash often have to think carefully about their finances. Many families end up pursuing personal injury lawsuits because of how devastating and expensive brain injuries often prove to be. There are three different types of expenses that families will likely need to cover after a crash-related TBI.
Medical expenses
Someone with a brain injury may require an ambulance ride to the hospital and a lengthy stay at a medical facility. Surgery, physical therapy and other forms of expensive treatment are often required to achieve the best possible quality of life for those with TBIs. Researchers estimate that it can cost anywhere from $85,000 to more than $3 million in lifetime medical costs to provide support for someone with a moderate to severe brain injury.
Daily accommodations
Brain injuries can present a host of different symptoms, ranging from issues with balance or motor function to changes in how someone thinks and behaves. Those symptoms may mean that people can no longer drive a vehicle or that they require special vehicles that can accommodate wheelchairs. Other times, they may need changes made around the home to make it more accessible and safe. Those with fine motor function issues, for example, might need to replace traditional door knobs with handles that are easier to open. The cost of retrofitting an existing property to make it accessible for someone with functional limitations can be tens of thousands of dollars depending on their needs and the property’s condition.
Lost future income
Workers will obviously be unable to earn their usual wages while they are in the hospital. They will also potentially lose out on income even after their discharge from medical facilities. Many individuals with brain injuries can no longer work in the same profession. Some can no longer work at all. Years or possibly decades of lost income can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Those struggling with the aftermath of someone’s TBI following a car crash may learn quickly that insurance won’t be able to cover all of their losses. Pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against an at-fault party is often a necessary financial step for those dealing with severe medical consequences following a car crash.