Estimating the Costs of Treating a Severe Brain Injury

Severe brain injuries have been in the news a lot over the last few years due to high profile stories involving professional athletes who sustained trauma as part of playing their sport. However, these types of injuries are also the unfortunate result of car accidents, truck collisions, on the job incidents, and other accidents. In fact, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reports that approximately 2.5 million people suffer traumatic brain injuries each year; plus, these injuries are a contributing factor in roughly one-third of all injury-related deaths. As you might expect, treating a severe brain injury is more than just a visit to the ER and prescription for pain meds. If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, here’s what you need to know about the costs of long-term treatment.

Factors to Consider with Medical Costs: From the CDC statistics on deaths due to traumatic brain injuries, it’s clear that effective, prolonged medical treatment is critical to ensuring a victim’s recovery.  This treatment doesn’t come cheap, however. Surgery is often required after the injury occurs in an accident, or after the trauma is discovered. The surgeons performing these types of procedures include those in such specialty areas as neurology, cerebrovascular and skull base practice, neuro-trauma, and others. The price tag for their services tends to be quite high.

In addition, regardless of whether surgery is necessary, severe brain injuries often require extended hospital stays; these are billed separately from any procedure performed by a healthcare practitioner. Hospital costs are estimated at around $4,000 per day, but would be higher for patients with severe head trauma.

Even once discharged from the hospital, treatment will usually continue long-term for victims suffering from traumatic head injuries. Physical therapy and rehabilitative care are typically required to return the person to health – if it’s even possible to do so. Some victims will require specialized care for the remainder of their lives.

Other Expenses to Consider: Direct medical costs after a severe head injury are extreme, estimated by the CDC to be about 90 percent of total economic consequences. There are also indirect financial implications for victims and their families, including:

• Increased medical costs for the side effects from a severe brain trauma;
• Loss of wages due to the victim’s inability to work after the accident;
• Loss of future wages if the victim is never able to return to his or her regular occupation; and,
• Other losses related to the victim’s inability to offer emotional support and guidance.

When you or a loved one suffers severe brain injury is caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for all losses incurred as a result. It’s wise to consult with a lawyer about the details of your case, but make sure to speak with a personal injury attorney that has an extensive background in traumatic brain injuries. The lawyers at Lafferty, Gallagher & Scott, LLC have the specific experience in these types of cases, and will fight for your rights to compensation under Ohio law. Please contact our Toledo office to schedule a consultation, or with any questions about your case.