There are multiple ways that a car crash could cause a brain injury. There is the obvious risk of someone striking their head on part of the car or on the ground if they get thrown from the vehicle. If there is a lot of shrapnel thrown about in the crash, glass or metal that penetrates the skull could cause a brain injury.
The violent motions of a vehicle can cause the brain to move aggressively inside the skull, causing bleeding and swelling. In the rare event of a collision causing an explosion, the percussive force could also cause a brain injury.
In any of those four situations, the people involved in the crash could suffer traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Such injuries could cause lifelong financial consequences for the person affected and their family members.
Brain injuries can cost more than insurance will pay
After a car crash, liability insurance coverage can protect the people affected. You will be able to make a claim against the other driver’s coverage, although it may not be enough to pay for all of your medical care.
Brain injuries with moderate to severe symptoms don’t just require emergency trauma care right after a collision. They often require surgery, physical therapy and ongoing medical support for the rest of someone’s life. How much a brain injury costs depends on how severe it is and the age and prior income of the person affected.
Researchers estimate that a brain injury can cost between $80,000 and $3 million in lifetime care, and that figure doesn’t even include lost income! With some drivers carrying just $30,000 worth of medical liability coverage in Texas, you can see how their insurance may not be enough to reimburse your family.
How do you recover those financial losses?
If insurance won’t cover all of the expenses from a crash, then the people affected have to look into other options for compensation. Personal injury lawsuits can help close the gap between what insurance will pay and how much an injury will actually cost.
Some people may be able to bring a claim against the driver who caused the wreck, while others could make a claim against a business. Looking over the circumstances leading to your crash can help you find the best options for covering your costs after a traumatic brain injury.