What are the Long-Term Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries?

If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to an accident, you need to consider not just the immediate, short-term consequences. You should consider what’s likely to happen in the future and try to prepare for it so you can try to cushion its adverse effects.

Satterley & Kelley, PLLC represents victims of accidents caused by others. Brain injuries may occur in any number of incidents, including slips and falls in parking lots, vehicle accidents, playing a sport, or diving into a swimming pool. If your family is in this situation, contact us today.

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A TBI could be caused by a strong blow or jolt to the head or body, forcing the head and neck to rapidly swing or snap. The person’s brain hits the interior of the skull, killing and injuring brain cells that never recover. An object piercing the skull and entering the brain can also cause a TBI, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Some TBIs cause temporary problems with normal brain function, including how the person moves, thinks, understands, acts, and communicates. More serious TBIs can result in fatal injuries or severe and permanent disability.

What Long-Term Effects Could Result From a TBI?

They can vary widely depending on:

• The injury’s severity, location, and type
• The victim’s age, overall health, and access to medical care and rehabilitation

Some common long-term TBI effects include:

• Difficulties with memory, attention, concentration, and problem-solving. Some individuals may experience impairments in language skills, including speaking, comprehension, reading, and writing
• Behavioral and emotional changes, such as anxiety, depression, irritability, aggression, mood swings, and impulsivity. These changes can significantly impact daily functioning
• Physical impairments include paralysis, weakness, coordination problems, and difficulties with balance and coordination. These impairments may require ongoing rehabilitation and physical therapy
• Sensory processing difficulties, resulting in changes in vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. Some may be very sensitive to some experiences or have difficulties integrating sensory information
• An increased risk of developing seizures and neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. They can range from mild to severe and may require medication or other treatments
• Brain injuries can profoundly impact an individual’s daily functioning and quality of life. They may need ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, and support services to manage their symptoms and maximize their independence

Depending on the severity of the injuries, a TBI can affect the victim’s family. The person may go from working full time and actively supporting and engaging with their family to one who’s withdrawn and dependent on others. Personality changes due to the injury, and sadness or anger over its impact can also dramatically affect relationships.

How Do These Long-Term Affects Impact a Person’s Claim for Compensation?

If someone suffers a TBI due to negligence or an intentional act by another, they may be liable to compensate the victim for all the harm they suffer, from the instant of the injury through the rest of their life.

The person with the TBI will ask for damages in an insurance claim or lawsuit. Damages are the negative impact someone suffers translated into dollars. They can include past and expected future physical pain and suffering, psychological harm, and emotional trauma.

Damages also include injury-related past and future economic losses. They typically include lost earnings, medical expenses, and other financial losses that are reasonably expected to continue in the future.

Past financial losses are calculated through receipts, bills, tax records, and other documents. Future losses are determined differently:

• One of the most significant parts of future economic damages is lost future earnings. This involves estimating the individual’s future earning capacity based on age, occupation, education, work experience, and earning history. Economists and vocational experts will assess the individual’s earning potential and project future income, taking into account inflation and lost career advancement
• Future medical expenses are also necessary in cases involving long-term disabilities caused by a TBI. Healthcare professionals may predict the individual’s future medical needs, including ongoing treatment, rehabilitation, medication, medical equipment, and long-term care services. These estimates are adjusted for inflation and other relevant factors to determine the total cost of future medical care
• Part of the calculations include other financial harm, such as the future loss of household services, retirement benefits, and the costs of adaptive equipment or modifications to the individual’s living environment. They are based on the person’s circumstances and may require input from various experts, including economists, actuaries, and financial planners

Calculating future economic damages involves considering contingencies that may affect a person’s financial situation, such as changes in health status, life expectancy, and economic conditions.

Speak To An Accident Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one suffers a TBI in an accident in Kentucky, Satterley & Kelley PLLC can and will help you handle legal matters with confidence. Put boots on the ground with our help.

Schedule a free initial consultation at our office in Louisville by calling 855-385-9532 or completing our contact form today.