Motor vehicle collisions cause some of the worst injuries that people can experience. For example, along with falls, contact sports and interpersonal violence, car crashes are a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Different crash circumstances can cause different types of TBIs, but all of them have the potential to be costly.
Sometimes, people in a vehicle hit their heads during a crash, which will cause blunt force trauma. Other times, the vehicle could roll or flip, which can shake someone so violently that it causes swelling of the brain. Even the shrapnel produced during a crash could cause penetrating injuries that result in a TBI. Whatever the underlying cause of a crash-related TBI, people can generally expect that a brain injury will be incredibly expensive. What makes a crash-related TBI so costly?
The medical care required
Modern emergency facilities have the ability to provide immediate trauma care and surgical interventions for those who have bleeding or swelling of the brain following a car crash. However, the treatment that someone requires after their trauma and the rehabilitation support necessary to regain function after a TBI will be very expensive. Researchers estimate that the average cost of TBI care after someone’s injury will range from between $85,000 and $3 million.
The accommodations required
Brain injuries often lead to medical needs and functional limitations. Individuals may require accessible housing or special vehicles, which can be very expensive to obtain. Adapting existing facilities and vehicles to accommodate someone’s needs can be an option but will likely still cost thousands of dollars.
The likely loss of earning potential
A TBI can cause many different symptoms, ranging from issues with motor function to problems with memory. Those medical challenges could very likely impact someone’s ability to perform their job. Sometimes, they will no longer be able to work at all. Other times, they will have to deprioritize career development and accept lower earning potential because of their injuries.
The combination of these three forms of financial pressure can mean major expenses and economic challenges for individuals who have sustained a TBI caused by a car crash and their immediate family members. Pursuing a personal injury lawsuit may be necessary for those affected by crash-related TBIs caused by another’s actions or inactions, as car insurance may not be enough to cover all of their costs.