The Real Cost Of Living With A Traumatic Brain Injury
As a Baton Rouge brain injury lawyer knows, when someone suffers a traumatic brain injury, the immediate medical bills are just the beginning. The true financial impact unfolds over years, sometimes decades. We’ve represented countless TBI victims in Louisiana, and we’ve seen firsthand how these injuries drain savings accounts and reshape entire family budgets.
Initial Medical Expenses Set The Stage
Emergency room visits, diagnostic imaging, and hospitalization create the first wave of expenses. A single CT scan can cost between $1,000 and $3,000. An MRI might run even higher. If surgery becomes necessary to relieve brain swelling or remove a hematoma, you’re looking at bills that easily exceed $100,000. But here’s what catches most families off guard. Those initial costs represent maybe 20% of what they’ll spend over a lifetime dealing with a brain injury.
Ongoing Medical Care Adds Up Fast
TBI victims rarely walk away after their hospital discharge. They need follow-up appointments with neurologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and sometimes psychiatrists. These visits continue for months or years.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, traumatic brain injuries contribute to about 30% of all injury deaths in the United States. For survivors, the ongoing treatment becomes a permanent part of life.
Common long-term medical needs include:
- Prescription medications for seizures, headaches, depression, or anxiety
- Cognitive rehabilitation therapy to rebuild memory and thinking skills
- Speech therapy when communication abilities are affected
- Physical therapy for balance and coordination problems
- Pain management treatments
- Mental health counseling for emotional changes
Each of these services costs money. A single therapy session might run $150 to $300. Multiply that by weekly or twice-weekly appointments over several years, and the numbers become staggering.
Lost Income Hits Families Hard
Most people don’t realize how a brain injury affects earning potential. You might not be able to return to your old job. Even if you do go back to work, you might need reduced hours or accommodations that affect your pay. Some TBI victims never work again. Their injury prevents them from concentrating, managing stress, or handling the cognitive demands of employment. We’ve worked with clients who went from six-figure incomes to zero overnight. The lost wages extend beyond the victim, too. Often, a spouse or family member has to cut back their own work hours to provide care and attend medical appointments.
Home Modifications Become Necessary
Depending on the severity of the injury, your home might need significant changes. Wheelchair ramps, modified bathrooms, stair lifts, and wider doorways all cost money. Some families end up selling their homes and buying single-story properties because stairs become too dangerous. These modifications aren’t covered by insurance in most cases. Families pay out of pocket for everything from grab bars to complete bathroom renovations.
Quality Of Life Changes Cost Money Too
Brain injuries often mean giving up hobbies, sports, and activities that once brought joy. But they also mean spending money on new adaptations. Special equipment, assistive technology, and modified vehicles all carry price tags. Transportation becomes a major expense when someone can no longer drive. Ride services, medical transport, and, depending on others, all factor into the monthly budget.
The Lifetime Price Tag
Research varies, but estimates for lifetime costs of moderate to severe TBI range from $85,000 to well over $3 million. The variation depends on injury severity, age at injury, and what kind of care the person needs. At Palmintier, Thrower, and Treuting Injury Attorneys, we calculate these long-term costs carefully when building injury claims. We work with medical economists and life care planners who project what our clients will need over their remaining years.
That’s why working with a Baton Rouge brain injury lawyer matters. We document every current and anticipated expense. We fight for compensation that reflects the true cost of living with a TBI, not just the initial emergency room bill. Your recovery shouldn’t be limited by finances. If you or someone you love has suffered a traumatic brain injury due to another party’s negligence, reach out to discuss your legal options. Understanding the full financial impact of your injury is the first step toward securing the resources you need for the long road ahead.