Long-Term Consequences of Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injury can impact a person’s life for many years. It can be challenging to maintain gainful employment, engage in personal relationships, and live independently. If you suffered a brain injury because of an accident or event that was someone else’s fault, a Los Angeles brain injury attorney could help you hold the at-fault party responsible for your injuries and losses.

Let’s explore the long-term consequences of brain injuries and how to seek compensation

Lifelong Conditions Brain Injury Can Cause

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that “[m]oderate and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) can lead to a lifetime of physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral changes.” About half of the people who are hospitalized with a TBI will get worse or die within five years of the injury. After suffering a TBI, the patient will need chronic disease management for the rest of their life. 

Here are CDC statistics on the 5-year outcomes of people who experienced a TBI:

• 22 percent died within five years of the injury.
• 30 percent became worse.
• 22 percent stayed the same.
• 26 percent improved.

Receiving inpatient rehabilitation services is crucial for the quality of a person’s life after a TBI, but even with medical care, people face these realities after a moderate or severe TBI:

• The TBI shortens their life expectancy by 9 years.
• They are 50 times more likely to die from seizures than someone who has not suffered a TBI.
• They are 11 times more likely to die from drug poisoning.
• They are 9 times more likely to die from an infection.
• They are 6 times more likely to die from pneumonia. 

At the 5-year post-injury point, the TBI patients who are still alive face these social issues in addition to their chronic health problems:

• 57 percent of them are disabled, either moderately or severely.
• Of those who were employed at the time of the TBI, 55 percent of them no longer have a job.
• Half of them have returned to a hospital at least one time.
• One-third of them have to rely on assistance from others with daily tasks.
• 29 percent of them abuse alcohol or take illegal drugs.
• 12 percent are living in long-term care centers or other institutions.

When a person’s life undergoes such drastic changes because of someone else’s negligence, the injured party should not have to bear the financial burden. California law allows injured people to seek monetary damages from those responsible for injuring them through carelessness.

Seeking Compensation for a Traumatic Brain Injury and Its Consequences

The person or company who caused you to suffer a TBI because of their negligence could get held liable for your losses. These damages can include:

• The expense of your medical treatments for the TBI, from the initial care to the rehabilitation and any ongoing therapy or medical care you need because of your TBI.
• Lost wages if you did not get paid for all the time you missed from work while recuperating from the TBI and undergoing treatments, medical procedures, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and rehabilitation.
• Future lost wages if you can no longer earn as much income as before because of consequences from the TBI.
• Pain and suffering for the physical discomfort and emotional distress of the accident and your injuries.
• Intangible losses related to the TBI and its consequences, like chronic pain, depression, anxiety, and loss of enjoyment of life.

A California personal injury attorney can help you go after compensation for the at-fault party. You can contact us today for a free consultation.