Along with falls, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries.
Rehabilitation helps TBI victims but requires persistent work. If you suffer this kind of injury, how will you manage the expense of ongoing treatment?
What happens
If you suffer brain damage in an accident, your brain will start a rewiring process as soon as your overall condition stabilizes. The brain will forge new pathways through the forests of still-healthy neurons, and uninjured cells will take on some of the functions previously performed by those the vehicle crash damaged.
Rehabilitation help
The brain cannot do this work alone, however, so help comes in the form of a rehabilitation program. There are two main goals: to help you relearn skills erased by the brain injury and to assist you in compensating for ongoing impairments. Relearning basic skills is a process you must repeat continually, but the exercises you practice will help you improve cognitive functions like memory and communication skills. Certain impairments will continue throughout life, but rehabilitation helps you deal with any shortcomings the brain injury causes.
How to cope
Relearning the most basic daily skills, such as walking, eating, bathing and dressing requires dedicated work for anyone dealing with TBI consequences. Depending on the severity of your traumatic brain injury, you may have to face enormous treatment costs, especially since a rehabilitation program could go on indefinitely. However, as the victim of a vehicle crash, you have the right to just compensation to cover your current and future medical expenses. Keep in mind that an advocate will work to negotiate a full and fair settlement on your behalf, allowing you to focus your efforts on successful rehabilitation.