Injuries after an accident can be unpredictable, such as a traumatic brain injury (TBI). This condition happens when blunt force causes disruptions or damage to the brain, resulting in various symptoms. Mild cases of TBI tend to get better with little to no medical intervention. On the other hand, severe TBI can have grave repercussions, requiring extensive and unique medical treatments or rehabilitation.
A bad case of TBI can lead to long-term disabilities and loss of cognitive abilities, altering the patient’s life and affecting their family. When patients exhibit signs that their injury resulted in symptoms impacting their physical, mental, emotional and social well-being, their attending physician could recommend further testing to determine what treatments they need. Some patients require rehabilitation if they experience the following:
- Loss of essential life skills
- Inability to complete simple tasks alone
- Impairments affecting abilities to maintain relationships
- Conditions impacting capabilities to be active within the community
Rehabilitation programs can have features focusing on the patient’s condition and what they need to improve. In some instances, patients require these treatments to recover or learn ways to live with any disabilities obtained because of their TBI.
What can impact recovery from TBIs?
TBIs can range from mild injuries that take a few weeks to heal fully to severe cases that can alter lives and require long-term care. A patient’s ability to recover can depend on varying factors, including their physical health before the accident, damage caused by their injury, support system availability, and access to medical care or rehabilitation.
Even if a patient is determined to overcome their condition, they might have a reduced chance of a full recovery if they cannot receive the proper medical treatments. Sometimes, they have no choice but to pursue compensation to afford treatments. In these cases, seeking legal counsel and determining whether filing a claim is an option can be helpful.