Why Is a TBI Victim’s Life Care Plan Important?
According to the CDC, traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are suffered by about 2.5 million people every year in the United States. Not all head injuries lead to a TBI, but when they do, they can have far-reaching effects on the family. TBIs can also be caused when a patient does not get enough oxygen to the brain: these types of anoxic brain injuries generally occur in anesthesiology and birth injury cases.
Every facet of the future care of a TBI victim must be included in a life care plan. These care plans must be considered during negotiations and trials leading to an at-fault settlement for a fair compensation award. A life care plan must look at the components of care for the victim as they may face years of rehabilitation and could involve a lifetime of medical, psychosocial, and rehabilitative care, either in an institution or at the victim’s home. It must be meticulously planned and consider a range of necessary topics including future costs projections and adjustments in care and training or retraining for the life of the victim.
Brain Damage Symptoms
The effects of trauma on the brain produces a variety of symptoms, to include:
- Physical, such as constant headaches, physical or mental fatigue, bouts of lost consciousness, seizures or paralysis, and/or sleep disorders.
- Emotional, such as increased or decreased emotions, depression, irritability, heightened bouts of aggressiveness, and/or denial of symptoms.
- Cognitive, such as difficulty processing data, thoughts, or understanding, short attention span, and/or memory loss.
- Perceptual, such as balance problems, heightened or weakened pain tolerance, difficulty with taste or smell, and/or changes in hearing, sight, and touch perception.
Hope of Healing
One of the main priorities of a Life Care Plan is the rehabilitation and hope of healing. All TBI patients must be considered for retraining and rehabilitation as part of a long-term recovery plan. This could include psychological/psychiatric care/support as well as:
- Speech therapy
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Vocational or technical training
Although not all patients will be eligible for retraining right away due to axonal injuries that interrupt communications between the brain and other body parts, the possibility of this eventuality should be included in a victim’s life care plan.
Considerations for the Compensation Awards for TBI Victims
When an insurance company or civil jury decides compensation awards for seriously brain injured victims it is imperative that they are provided viable estimates of future costs to ensure proper indemnity to cover rehabilitation, including consultations with attending physicians; nursing requirements; experts in physical rehabilitation; and a lifetime of medical care. This information is provided in the form of a Life Care Plan.
The Outline of a Life Care Plan
A victim’s life care plan is a complicated document; a planner should gather all records pertinent to the patient before beginning the plan. Consultations with qualified professionals who have knowledge of the cost of living predictions must take place. The planner must establish future estimated expenditures.
GreeningLaw, P.C. Will Fight for Just Compensation
GreeningLaw, P.C. provides advice and counsel to the family of victims who suffered TBIs or other personal injuries on a contingency basis. We will be involved in every aspect of recovering just compensation, from gathering details and preparing documents to representing the victim in negotiations with insurance companies or in the courtroom. You will not have to worry about anything but recovery. We accept the stress of handling fees and expenses involved in the process so you can concentrate on your loved one’s recovery. Basically, what it means when you hire us to represent you in your claim is that if we do not receive compensation for you, there is no fee for our services.
Call (972) 934-8900 to reach Robert Greening, your personal injury advisor to set up a free consultation without obligation. Our discussion and future considerations will be strictly confidential. We will discuss and agree on everything before we agree to represent you, so there are no surprises. We fight the legal battle so you have time for healing and renewal. Call today!