Serious brain injury is all too common in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were a reported 52,000 deaths from brain injury between 2002 and 2006, as well as 275,000 hospitalizations, and over 1.3 million emergency room visits. More recent statistics show that roughly 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury every year.
Despite the fact that brain injury is so common in the United States, it doesn\’t always receive the widespread attention it deserves. A recent op-ed article threw light on the unfortunate reality that most people only hear about brain injury in connection with celebrities who suffer from it, particularly football stars.
One of the unspoken realities of brain injury is that it can be every costly for those who suffer from it. The lifetime costs of treating a traumatic brain injury are estimated to be between $85,000 and $3 million. For celebrities, it may be possible to absorb these costs, but for ordinary people it often isn\’t. In addition to the costs, there is also the reality that many people with brain injuries are not able to maintain what they feel to be a productive role in society. Data has shown that many people who suffer from brain injuries are more likely to be unemployed.
Because the costs of brain injury are so significant, it is critical for those who sustain a brain injury due to the negligence of another seek appropriate compensation. Exactly how to go about this depends on the circumstances. Those who suffer from brain injuries as a result of a car crash should seek to work with an experienced personal injury attorney to ensure they build a strong case for both liability and damages. In our next post, we\’ll take a closer look at the issue of damages in brain injury cases.
Source: CDC, Get the Stats on Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States, E Average, Accessed Jan. 5, 2015.
