After you get hurt in a serious car crash, you have certain rights. You can file an insurance claim against the driver who hurt you. Their coverage can help pay for your medical treatment costs, lost wages and vehicle repair expenses. Of course, it’s also possible that they won’t have enough insurance to cover all of your losses from the collision.
You can also possibly take that driver to civil court and seek compensation through a personal injury claim if they don’t have enough insurance to appropriately reimburse you for the losses that you have suffered. Such a claim can help you offset the lasting financial consequences of a serious injury, like a brain injury.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the worst possible injuries people can suffer in a car crash. Not only do they require extensive intervention, but they can also lead to a lifetime of consequences. Your age at the time that you suffer a TBI can have a major impact on the value of your claim.
A brain injury might mean a lifetime of diminished income
Getting into a car crash when you are 24 and have just finished your Master’s degree you could mean that you never recoup what you invested in your graduate education. The memory loss and other cognitive symptoms possible after a brain injury could forever limit your job opportunities despite the years you spent obtaining work experience or a college education.
You could go from being on the cusp of commanding a six-figure salary to barely qualifying to take a minimum wage job as a cashier or stocker. The more years you will suffer diminished income, the bigger the claim that you may be able to bring against the driver who caused the wreck.
You may also require years of medical support
The symptoms of TBIs vary drastically, but they often impact everything from motor function and cognition to balance and sensory perception. You may need medication, physical therapy or other ongoing treatments to help you make the most of life with your TBI. Some people even need nursing help or special medical equipment in their homes.
