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Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a result of a blow or jolt to the head that causes brain damage. There is rarely such a thing as a minor TBI and everyone’s brain is different. This means that even when two accident victims have suffered an identical injury, it may affect them very differently. This can make it difficult for doctors to diagnose specific injuries and determine the type of rehabilitation that is required.

When a TBI is not extremely serious, the injury may not be diagnosed right away. This can cause a person to lose out on the benefits of receiving rehabilitation and medical care right away. If you have been in an accident, you may have suffered a temporary loss of consciousness or you may have developed a permanent disability. Regardless of the type of TBI you have suffered though, it may result in a short or long-term disability.

Stats on Traumatic Brain Injuries

The stats on traumatic brain injuries are startling and highlight the very serious nature of these injuries. The most alarming stats on TBIs are as follows:

• Approximately 2 to 5.3 percent of Americans have suffered a disability due to a brain injury.
• The risk of sustaining a TBI doubles for men as opposed to the risk for women.
• Individuals over the age of 75 and adolescents between the ages of 15 and 24 are most at risk of suffering from a TBI.
• The most common causes of TBIs are motor vehicle accidents (14.3 percent), violence (10 percent), falls (40.5 percent) and unintentional blunt trauma (15.5 percent)
• TBIs are responsible for approximately one-third of all deaths in the United States
• Approximately $60 billion is spent in the United States every year on lost productivity and medical costs associated with TBIs

Rehabilitation After a Traumatic Brain Injury

There are a number of treatment and rehabilitation programs that can help after someone suffers a traumatic brain injury. The ones most commonly used by accident victims are as follows:

• Acute rehabilitation: This is an in-patient program that often takes place in a hospital and is highly intensive.
• Comprehensive rehabilitation programs: Typically long-term, this type of rehabilitation involves speech, occupation, and physical therapies. Comprehensive rehabilitation can also include group socialization, psychological counseling, behavior modification, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and vocational rehabilitation programs. These programs are often completed at a rehabilitation facility or an outpatient weekday program.
• Day treatment programs: These programs include basic rehabilitation, group socialization, and behavior modification, usually performed on an out-patient basis during normal business hours.
• Coma treatment centers: The treatment provided at these facilities is specific to coma patients.
• Transitional living: These are residential non-medical programs that try to teach brain injury patients how to reintegrate into the community and live independently.
• Long-term care and supervised living programs: These programs take place in residential facilities and they provide care and support for TBI victims who cannot live independently.

How Much Does a Traumatic Brain Injury Cost in New York?

Not only will accident victims suffer from immense pain and emotional suffering after suffering a TBI, but these injuries are also very costly. The medical bills and other costs will quickly add up, particularly when an accident victim can no longer enjoy the things they once did, or when they cannot return to work. A few of the most common costs accident victims will incur after suffering a TBI in New York include:

• Hospital stays: Hospital stays are expensive, particularly for individuals who do not have health insurance. An average hospital stay of three days can cost as much as $30,000. Few traumatic brain injuries only require a recovery period of three days. Most accident victims have to remain in the hospital for weeks. On average, it costs $210,000 to stay in a hospital for three weeks. That amount is high but it also does not account for ambulance services and the cost of transportation to and from the hospital.
• Surgery, medical treatment, and medication: The cost of surgery, medical treatment, and medication required to treat a traumatic brain injury can reach as high as $100,000.
• Future treatment: Treatment for a TBI is usually ongoing and a person may require years of treatment. In some instances, accident victims may require long-term home care or a healthcare aid.
• Lost wages: No one can determine how much lost wages will cost a victim of a traumatic brain injury because it will completely depend on the person’s job. In addition to this, a traumatic brain injury is often so severe, the accident victim cannot return to the same line of work in the future, which will cause them to incur additional losses and costs. In some instances, this can result in the victim losing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• Non-economic losses: There are many economic losses that will cost traumatic brain injury victims actual money. However, there are many other non-economic losses accident victims will incur, as well. These losses do not have a concrete dollar value and can include losses such as physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life.

The above are just a few of the main losses and costs an accident victim will incur after suffering from a traumatic brain injury. A TBI lawyer in New York City can help all accident victims file a personal injury claim that can provide financial compensation for all of these losses.

Consult Our Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer in New York City Today

At Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C., our New York City traumatic brain injury lawyer has an outstanding reputation built on a proven track record for helping accident victims recover for all of their losses. We want to put our experience to work for you, too. Call us today at 1-877-ASK4SAM or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation and to learn more about how we can help you claim the full financial compensation you and your family deserve.