According to brainline.com, as many as 2.8 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) on an annual basis. Of these, some 50,000 will die and another 282,000 will be hospitalized. Although the vast majority of TBIs consist of mild concussions, even these types of injuries can cause long-term issues.
While traumatic brain injuries can occur in anyone, regardless of age, the reasons for sustaining these injuries vary drastically.
- Children – More than 300,000 children are treated annually for traumatic brain injuries due to sports and recreation-related accidents.
- The Elderly – For people over the age of 65, falls are the leading cause of fatal traumatic brain injur
- Teens and Adults –Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries that result in death.
Economic Costs of a Traumatic Brain Injury
The financial costs of a traumatic brain injury are staggering. According to the CDC, the overall economic cost of traumatic brain injuries in 2010 was $76.5 billion. And the lifetime cost for a person who survives a serious traumatic brain injury can be as high as $4 million.
In general, the more traumatic the injury, the higher the costs:
- A mild head injury averages $85,000
- A moderate head injury averages $941,000
- A severe head injury averages $3 million
Survivors of a severe traumatic brain injury average 55 days in an acute rehabilitation facility, at a cost of at least $1,000 per day.
The financial costs associated with a traumatic brain injury can financially devastate the victim, and when the injury is so severe that it prevents a return to work, the economic impact increases exponentially.
Emotional and Physical Costs of a Traumatic Brain Injury
Victims of traumatic brain injuries and their family members must also deal with the long-term physical and mental changes caused by a TBI, including:
- Difficulty with Thinking and Cognition– Problems with thinking and cognition are common after a traumatic brain injury:
- Lowered attention span
- Trouble concentrating
- Difficulty remembering newly learned material
- Decrease in problem-solving skills
- Speech issues
- Impulse control
- Unable to switch tasks
- Moodiness and Behavior Changes – The part of the brain that controls our social-emotional lives can be damaged, leading to:
- Significant personality changes
- Lack of tact
- Wild emotional swings
- Irritability
- Lethargy
- Aggression
- Lack of motivation
- Inability to modify behaviors to fit situations
- Depression
- Adverse Physical Symptoms– The body often responds adversely to a traumatic brain injury. Physical symptoms associated with a TBI include:
- Blurry vision
- Reduced depth perception
- Changes in hearing, smell, taste and touch
- Vertigo
- Ringing in the ears
- Seizures
- Difficulty walking
- Chronic pain
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Bladder and bowel issues
Contact a Tampa Personal Injury Attorney Immediately
If you or someone you love has sustained a traumatic brain injury, don’t go it alone. An experienced Tampa personal injury attorney can investigate your accident and protect your rights to compensation while you are recovering. Contact Dennis A. Lopez & Associates today at (877) 333-3676 for the legal representation you need after a devastating accident.