An individual who has suffered severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to the negligence of another may seek compensation to pay for the costs and losses associated with the injury. This claim must take into account not only past medical expenses but future costs of care and treatment as well.
One study estimated that the lifetime health care costs for TBI are $85,000 and could reach as high as $3 million. However, each TBI case is unique. The extent of costs that arise from the injury will vary.
The amount of costs will primarily depend on the degree to which an individual victim’s physical coordination, sensory functions and cognitive abilities have been harmed. It will also depend on whether the individual has suffered emotional damage, including anxiety, depression, mood swings and outbursts.
At Geoff McDonald & Associates, we have seen first-hand how challenging it can be for TBI victims and their family members in Richmond and throughout Virginia to deal with these costs. Our goal is to help you to shoulder that burden by putting our experience to work for you.
Contact us today to learn about the assistance a traumatic brain injury lawyer from our firm can provide.
Medical Costs Associated with TBI
The past and future medical costs of TBI may include care and treatment such as:
- Emergency treatment
- Hospitalization
- Diagnostic testing
- Surgery
- Evaluation and treatment by neurologists and other specialists
- X-rays, MRIs and other tests
- Prescription and over-the-counter medications
- Initial long-term care assessment
- Initial psychological assessment
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech therapy / augmentative communication device evaluation
- Nutritional assessment and planning
- Nutritional formula
- Psychological counseling
- Family counseling and education
- Adaptive devices such as wheelchairs and powered lifts
- Orthotic devices (to assist with balance and mobility)
- Augmentative communication devices
- Adapted motor vehicle (van) with a wheelchair lift and tie-down
- Home renovations
- Modified / adaptive personal devices
- Attendant care
- Nursing services
- Housekeeping / home maintenance assistance
- Case management services
- Skilled nursing center placement.
At Geoff McDonald & Associates, our attorneys understand what is necessary to develop a proper claim for a TBI victim and his or her family. We can consult medical specialists, life-care planners and economists to determine the full extent of past and future medical expenses our clients should recover.
Costs of TBI Go Beyond Medical Expenses
A recent study of nearly 3,000 serious TBI cases found that 52 percent of survivors exhibited a moderate to severe disability one year after their accident. Four years after being injured, most survivors lived with their families but did not work or attend school.
This means that a TBI victim’s loss of past and future income should be taken into account when seeking compensation. Family members may be burdened as well due to the need to provide constant care and attention to their loved one. Their losses should be accounted for in a proper claim for damages.
