A price cannot be put on the cost of physical issues and emotional distress a person and their loved ones will go through following a brain injury. However, there is a cost for the recovery, treatments and more that are required after someone sustains a serious brain injury or even a traumatic brain injury (TBI). It is estimated that even mild injuries can cost as much as $85,000, while moderate injuries come closer to $941,000 and severe injuries may cost over $3 million.
The Annual Costs of Brain Injuries
According to BrainandSpinalCord.org, it is estimated that the cost of a traumatic brain injury in the United States reaches $48.3 billion annually – about $31.7 billion of that being spent on hospitalization costs and the additional costs associated with fatalities.
The Centers for Disease Control have estimated that acute care and rehabilitation care for brain injuries costs the United States about $9 billion to $10 billion annually. This doesn’t include the indirect costs that families face – including lost earnings, loss of productivity, care, etc.
How Much Does a Brain Injury Cost Over a Lifetime?
Brain injuries are often something victims (and their families) deal with the rest of their lives. The costs associated with these injuries can vary depending on the severity of the original injury and that injury’s specific long-term effects. However, it is estimated that caring for a survivor of severe brain trauma can cost between $600,000 to $1,875,000 over their lifetime.
Why Brain Injuries Cost So Much
A recent study of more than 3,000 serious head trauma victims found that 52 percent of survivors were severely disabled at a one-year mark. Most of those patients never fully recovered their own independence – even when they still had normal life expectancies post-injury. At four years, most of those survivors lived with family members and did not work or attend school because of the mental impairments associated with brain injury.
Brain injuries, in the long-term, cause disturbances of cognition, mood, and behavior. They can be highly debilitating and create a whole host of disabilities. Also, studies have shown that there is little evidence of improvement in psychological issues after a brain injury – even after as much as seven years post-injury. Most survivors of brain injuries will require family support and even become lifetime burdens on family members.
Seeking Compensation for Your Injuries
If you or a loved one has suffered from a brain injury, it is important that you seek assistance from a personal injury attorney. An attorney can help estimate the costs of your particular injury – including long-term care needs – so that you are adequately compensated for your brain injury. Call the attorneys at Hancock Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation at 813-602-7849 or fill out an online contact form with your questions.
