A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain caused by physical force. This type of injury is caused in various ways, and can occur during car accidents, slip and falls, and other types of accidents where the impact is directed to the head. If you experience a traumatic brain injury, you may face effects for the rest of your life.
If someone else’s actions caused the injury, you might have the right to pursue a claim for damages. This article walks you through the details of a TBI settlement in California.
Average Costs of TBI Treatment and Rehabilitation
The cost of treating and recovering from a TBI can vary depending on severity. Some TBI victims have minor injuries and only incur a short stay at the hospital, outpatient care, and monitoring by a physician. More severe injuries can require hospitalization, inpatient care, monitoring by specialists, and other treatments that could last for the rest of their lives.
The recovery from a TBI typically entails physical, cognitive, speech, or occupational therapy. If the victim is paralyzed or disabled, they require expensive medical equipment, mobility aids, medicines, and home assistive devices. Various studies have been conducted by the CDC, Brain Injury Association of America, and the Family Caregiver Alliance, which indicate the following TBI victim statistics:
- The first year of rehabilitation could cost nearly $196,000. Without rehabilitation services, the treatment for one year is approximately $18,000.
- Total lifetime costs for a TBI victim could reach $4 million.
- Fatal TBIs can cost upwards of $450,000.
- The average daily cost for inpatient TBI care is $8,000. Residential rehabilitation facility costs average between $850 and $2,500 daily. Outpatient rehabilitation can reach up to $1,000 per session.
These numbers are staggering when trying to calculate the cost of recovering or caring for a TBI. Depending on the cause of the TBI, insurance may not cover all of the recovery and possible lifetime care for the victim. Contacting a personal injury lawyer as soon as you can after the injury helps you recover the maximum amount of damages from the person at fault in the accident, slip-and-fall, or other incident resulting in a TBI.
What Is the Average Settlement for a TBI Injury?
While there is no standard value for a brain injury settlement, understanding the extent of the injury helps the courts determine the value. Settlement amounts can range from the thousands to the millions depending on the circumstances of your case. TBI settlements tend to be much higher than other personal injury claims because of the long-term impact of the injuries.
During your personal injury lawsuit, many factors influence the value of your settlement. The type of accident is one determining factor, there are different settlements for car accidents, slip and falls, and other TBIs caused by someone else’s negligence.
Car accident TBI cases take the speed, car make/model, and your body position into account to determine how your brain is impacted. Slip-and-falls depend on height, frequency, and the extent of the injury.
In addition to the accident details, your age, gender, and health conditions can decrease or increase your risk for some injuries. If you wait to seek medical treatment, you could experience worsening effects, affecting the outcome of your lawsuit. When you seek care immediately, you may minimize the risk of complications, but you’ll notice how quickly the medical bills stack up. In addition to medical bills, you may also face lost time at work, a decrease in pay, or even the inability to work for the rest of your life. Regardless of the cost, seeking treatment immediately is essential to preventing more serious complications.
As you can see, many factors go into calculating the cost of a TBI. It’s crucial that you have a California personal injury lawyer evaluate your case to help consider the variables and maximize the amount of your settlement.
Finding The Right Attorney
At Hann Law Firm, our purpose is to advocate for you in the face of these challenges. We’ll fight to get you the compensation you deserve to heal and move forward with your life. We have a long, proven track record of success in San Jose and throughout California – you can trust us when it’s most important.
Our approach to personal injury cases is simple – it’s focused on YOU. While other firms try to take on as many cases as possible to maximize their profits, we do things differently. We invest the time, resources, and energy into supporting you from beginning to end. That means taking all the steps necessary to understand your situation, what you need, and how to best accomplish your goals. This client-centered approach results in the best outcomes every time.
We have experience with a wide variety of cases, including slip-and-fall injuries, catastrophic neck and spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and car accidents. We’ve seen it all. Because of this, we know the ins and outs of these types of cases and can often negotiate a reasonable settlement without ever having to go to court. Contact us today for your free consultation.
