rain injury costs can be particularly complex because the brain itself is so complex. Injury severity, treatment, and whether a patient makes a full recovery are some of the factors that affect TBI compensation.
In the early stages of a TBI diagnosis, it’s difficult to predict someone’s long-term prognosis. Some patients require immediate care at a hospital or emergency room and get back to normal after a brief rest period. Others need extensive hospitalization and ongoing help with everyday activities. A minority of patients are permanently changed by their injuries. And somebody might not get immediate treatment for a TBI but later have serious complications.
Generally, TBI costs fall into the following categories:
- Direct medical costs
- Rehabilitation
- Medication
- Caregiver
- Transportation
- Lost productivity
To give a very rough overview of how these costs can add up, one study of TBI patients found that mild cases can cost around $30,000 – $35,000 and moderate cases can cost $25,000 – $80,000—and these were just the direct medical costs. Another study found the direct costs of TBI average $65,000 – $115,000 per patient. Due to inflation, these costs are likely almost double today.
- The Rand Corporation says that the one-year cost of mild TBI ranges from around $27,000 to $33,000 per case. For moderate to severe TBI, costs per case are roughly $270,000 to $410,000.
- Arizona State reports TBI affects 1.7 million Americans at an estimated annual cost of $76.5 billion, or approximately $45,000 per person.
These are just very general estimates that only consider direct costs, and not indirect costs like productivity loss. Other indirect TBI costs can include physical and emotional pain and suffering. These costs are very relevant to TBI cases due to the high percentage of patients who develop post-TBI depression and anxiety.
The brain affects nearly everything we do, feel, and think. Putting a dollar amount on a brain injury is therefore extremely complicated. A brain injury attorney works with medical experts to determine how much a traumatic brain injury is worth. This dollar amount forms the basis of insurance company negotiations and, if necessary, a TBI injury lawsuit.