People who are involved in drunk driving crashes can suffer very serious injuries. Some of these are fatal, but injuries that aren’t fatal can still have a catastrophic effect on the victim’s life. Annually, around 80,000 to 90,000 people suffer this type of injury. There are approximately 13.5 million individuals who have a traumatic brain injury disability.
Motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of fatal traumatic brain injuries. They’re also the second leading cause of non-fatal traumatic brain injuries.
What are some lifelong effects of a traumatic brain injury?
Many people who suffer a traumatic brain injury will have short-term issues. These are symptoms like headaches and sensitivity to light and sound. It’s possible that those will continue for the rest of the victim’s life, but the symptoms might abate with time.
Typically, lifelong changes, such as mood swings and changes in memory, are associated with more severe injuries. Some injuries don’t heal well, which means they’ll be harder to overcome. It’s sometimes possible for a person to go through rehabilitation to learn ways to live with the effects of the injury. This can include physical, occupational and vocational rehab.
Anyone who’s involved in a motor vehicle crash should ensure they get immediate medical care. This might help the person to discover injuries that they don’t realize they have. If a traumatic brain injury is found, intensive medical care might be necessary. This can be costly, so the victim might choose to seek compensation to help cover the expenses stemming from the wreck-related injuries. You only have a limited time to get your claim filed.