When your loved one left the house that morning, you had no reason to believe that the day would go any differently than any other. Then, at some point during the day, you got a phone call that you didn’t realize would change the life of your loved one and your life as well.
Your loved one was the victim of a car accident, but that isn’t the news that will change your life dramatically. Rather, it was the news that he or she suffered a traumatic brain injury. In the few precious seconds during which the crash took place, your family member suffered a serious blow to the head.
What are the consequences of a serious TBI?
Even though you are relieved that your loved one lived, you may be anxious to know how his or her TBI will change your lives. It could take some time to determine what consequences of that injury will remain, but you can expect some or all of the following:
- Problems understanding others
- Feelings of confusion or mental fogginess
- Slowed thinking speed
- Memory and learning challenges
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Personality changes
- Difficulty controlling emotions
- Anger
- Agitation or irritability
- Mood swings
- Chronic headaches
- Balance problems
- Dizziness
- Trouble concentrating
- Trouble paying attention
- Problems remembering words and speech
- Problems selecting the right words and speech
- Difficulty completing complex tasks
- Apathy
- Fatigue
- Inability to understand limitations
- Lack of self-awareness
- Lack of self-control
- Seizures
- Nerve damage
- Stroke
This list does not include every possible permanent consequence of a TBI, but it gives you an idea of what you may face. People who survive such a serious injury may also experience permanent personality changes. The person you knew prior to the accident may disappear forever. He or she may not be able to return to work and no longer have the ability to return the same work he or she did previously.
It could take some time for your loved one to learn how to cope with his or her new limitations, if that is even possible. You will more than likely need to learn how to help your loved one and could take on a larger caretaker role than you anticipated. In any event, the aftermath of a TBI could have significant ramifications for your and your family’s financial situation.
You may have legal options
If your loved one’s injury resulted from the negligence or recklessness of one or more parties, it may be possible to pursue compensation to help with the current and future financial losses you face. It would probably be wise to obtain a thorough evaluation of your circumstances in order to determine the best possible legal action moving forward.