The collective costs of a brain injury can add up to more than $76 billion a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent numbers. This includes everything from hospitalization and treatment expenses to loss of productivity and lost wages.

The total cost of a brain injury an individual patient can expect depends on the extent of the injuries, the level of treatment required and the longevity of the treatment regimen.

Also factored in are any necessary forms of rehabilitation, lost income, and long-term care costs if the victim falls into a coma or vegetative state. An Ohio injury lawyer can help evaluate damages the victim has suffered and provide legal guidance to pursue a claim for damages.

Estimated costs of a brain injury include: 

• Initial emergency care – According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, in 2009, the average cost for emergency room medical care was anywhere from $734 to nearly $1,700, depending on the patient’s age. This may be even higher when a serious head injury is involved.
• Hospitalization – While there are no recent studies regarding average hospitalization costs, the CDC does estimate that fatal traumatic brain injuries and traumatic brain injuries requiring hospital care account for about 90 percent of all annual nationwide brain injury costs ($76.5 billion).
• Physical rehabilitation – According to a 2011 USA Today news article, Susan Connors, president of the Brain Injury Association of America, states that brain injury rehab programs can cost anywhere from $600 to $8,000 per day. Plus, most insurance companies will only cover these expenses when it’s necessary to save the patient’s life.

All in all, the total healthcare expenses of a brain injury can end up costing victims thousands of dollars over a lifetime. Victims will also likely suffer lost income and financial benefits, and they may need to undergo costly vocational rehabilitation in order to reenter the workforce.

If the brain injury was caused by medical malpractice or negligence, filing a legal claim with help from an Ohio injury lawyer may be an option. Victims of brain damage caused by negligence may recover compensation for damages through a settlement, which can help victims cover costs of a brain injury.