Accident Attorney Fighting for Victims of Brain Injuries
There is no such thing as an anticipated price estimate for the emotional and physical issues that come with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, there are monetary costs that can vary depending on the severity of the injury. Sometimes, a mild injury will cost a victim less than $100,000, while other times a severe injury could result in millions of dollars in damage.
Annual Costs for TBIs Add Quickly
From the initial cost of the traumatic brain injury to the long-term costs, plaintiffs will experience significant financial losses for anything from treatments to rehabilitation to lost wages and more.
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), acute care and rehabilitative care for brain injury patients – which is common with moderate to severe instances – costs $9 billion to $10 billion per year for patients.
These costs do not reflect the other indirect costs, such as lost earnings, lost productivity, work time issues, and social services cost required to help families treating a victim of TBI.
The Lifetime Costs Might Vary
Lifetime costs can vary depending on the situation. If a patient eventually recovers from a TBI, he or she will have lower lifetime costs than a person who is permanently disabled by the TBI.
Most moderate to severe TBIs carry some long-term effects. Whether it is a partial disability, blindness, agitation, memory loss, or partial paralysis, these issues can affect a person for years.
When Health Insurance No Longer Pays
The fine print of your health insurance policy will address things like long-term injuries, including TBIs. Sadly, those who have a TBI will often find that their insurance coverage quickly stops payment or that their benefits run out.
Some policies have language that will affect:
- Lifetime Coverage Limits – Most companies have a lifetime payout limit for patients, which can be reached in a year or less for some TBI victims.
- Subrogation Issues – If there is a provision that lets a person act on behalf of a victim in legal actions, the health insurance company may dictate who that person is.
- Therapy – You may be limited to how many therapy sessions you receive per year for your TBI recovery.
- Home Care Benefits – Not all insurance policies offer home healthcare benefits, or they may have a maximum amount allowed per year. Therefore, you may not have full coverage.
- Medical Equipment – Most patients with severe TBIs require medical equipment at home, and only certain equipment is covered by even the best health insurance policies in specific situations. Therefore, your much-needed equipment may not be covered.
Getting Compensation for Your TBI
If you have suffered a TBI in an accident that was caused by someone’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. However, you must first speak with a personal injury attorney to explore your options. The Gladstein Law Firm, PLLC can assist you with your case. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today to see if you can receive compensation for your compounding TBI costs.
Call us today or reach out to us via our online contact form to get started.
