What Are the Long-Term Needs of Brain Injury Patients?

Traumatic brain injuries are among some of the most catastrophic injuries a person can sustain in an accident. Trauma to the head and brain can cause an entire host of cognitive and physical difficulties, many that will last for the rest of the victim’s life. Depending on the severity of the brain injury, you or your loved one may require long-term or lifetime care. This is why it is so important to work with a skilled attorney on your injury case to ensure you secure the proper compensation to cover your needs.

Traumatic brain injury can last forever

Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is a life-changing injury with lifelong consequences. In their TBI factsheet, the CDC shares the following information and research:

• About 50% of TBI patients experience further decline or die within five years after initial treatment and rehabilitation of their injury.
• 22% of patients remained the same over the five-year period, and only 26% improved.
• A patient’s life expectancy post-TBI is nine years shorter than average.
• People with TBIs are more likely to experience seizures, drug poisoning, infections, and pneumonia.
• They are also more likely to be disabled, unemployed as a result of their injury, in need of a caretaker, misuse alcohol or drugs, reside in nursing homes, and suffer from depression.

The CDC calls on the government and health providers to recognize TBI as a chronic health condition and work to provide more resources and assistive services to patients.

What is a life care plan, and why is it important?

Because brain injuries affect so many functions – cognitive, behavioral, physical, emotional – patients may require a coordinated team of specialists to continue participating in every day life. Comprehensive Rehabilitation Consultants provides a sampling of the types of services a young adult TBI patient might need post-injury and long-term:

• A medical team, including “neurological, endocrinological, orthopedic, and psychiatric specialties.” This also includes any prescription medications.
• Ongoing diagnostic tests, including lab tests, MRIs, X-rays, and CT scans.
• Support care, for patients with cognitive difficulties unable to live on their own. This care can include things like a guardianship, financial manager or attorney, as well as setting up any necessary trusts and estate plans.
• Vocational evaluations, which can analyze potential lost earnings. For example, if a patient had planned to go to graduate school before their accident, a neuropsychiatrist and other experts can determine whether that is still possible. If not, a vocational expert can calculate lost earnings as well as provide training for another job (if possible).

What other services might TBI patients require?

As the CDC fact sheet pointed out earlier, many brain injury patients may require long-term care, typically in nursing homes and rehabilitation centers that can provide the type of care they need for their injuries. These are necessary but also add to the already-massive cost of a TBI. Brain injury facilities provide a variety of inpatient and outpatient specialized care, including:

• Rehabilitative and individualized treatment specific to the patient’s goals.
• Physical interventions on low-consciousness patients to address muscle tone and body positioning.
• Family support services, for both caregiver support tools and active involvement in the recovery process.
• Therapeutic recreation, speech therapy, music and art therapy, and psychological services.

Why you need an experienced Minot TBI attorney

As you can see, patients with moderate to severe brain injuries require a great deal of care, both at the time of the injury and well into the future. Only a skilled and savvy attorney understands the complexities of establishing the true extent of your damages and losses, as every person and every brain injury is unique. Your injury will affect your life in myriad ways, and it is crucial you secure all the compensation you will need to help you live the best life possible.

When we take your case, we work with your entire medical team, plus TBI and financial experts, to determine the scope of the compensation to which you are entitled for your injury, including:

• Medical expenses, now and for as long as you need.
• Lost wages while you recover, and lost earning potential if you cannot work.
• Pain and suffering, for your physical pain and emotional trauma.
• Physical and occupational therapy, as well as other related treatments.
• Loss of companionship and enjoyment of life, as TBIs often affect relationships with spouses and loved ones, as well as alter your day-to-day life.

The Minot brain injury attorneys at Larson Law have the resources you need for your TBI claim. We can call on a variety of experts to calculate the true value of your claim to ensure you and your family have the care you need for the rest of your life. You don’t have to go through this complex process alone. To find out how our lawyers can help, call 701-484-HURT or complete our contact form to schedule a consultation. We maintain offices in Minot, Fargo, and Bismarck.