If a person suffers a traumatic brain injury, such as in a motor vehicle accident, it is essential to receive the appropriate treatment. This often includes treatment immediately following the accident, as well as future medical care.

Important Steps to Take Following a Head Injury

The time immediately following an accident is often hectic. There may be multiple people with injuries. Despite this, it is important to receive medical care as soon as possible. Inform the police that you have an injury and need medical care. While it is important to receive immediate medical care for most injuries, it is especially important for head injuries.

Most importantly, the injured party needs to be stabilized as soon as possible. You can read more about the importance of initial treatment here. Once the person is stabilized to the point that the injury is not worsening, his or her medical team can devise a plan for moving forward. The next steps depend largely on the type and extent of the injury.

Treatments for a head injury might include:

  • Medications: Some medications may be used to treat head injury symptoms.
  • Rehabilitation: Severe head injuries may need rehabilitation. Because the brain controls how we walk and talk, patients may need to re-learn these behaviors.

Some people don’t require any additional treatment, outside of plenty of rest. Others, however, may require a more intense treatment strategy, including surgery.

Determining Who Is Responsible for Head Injury Costs

The treatments for a brain injury can be expensive. This doesn’t even account for any additional costs, like time off from work to receive treatment. If you have to miss work, you may not be able to make your mortgage or vehicle payments. This can put you in a difficult financial position.

This leads many to wonder who is responsible for the costs associated with a head injury. The answer is, it depends. It depends on the details of the accident and who was involved. While the state is a no-fault state, which allows you to receive some compensation through your insurance company, this amount is limited by your policy limits. If you experience a head injury, it is likely that your costs will exceed your policy limit.

Additional compensation may be available through a third-party personal injury claim if negligence was present. If another driver or employee caused your accident, and thus, the injury, then they may also be liable for your damages. You can learn more about your legal options by discussing the details of your case with a personal injury lawyer.

Contact Us Today to Discuss Your Head Injury Case

Each year, more than one million people suffer a traumatic brain injury. Many of these can be directly attributed to negligence, such as somebody who is driving under the influence of alcohol and causes an accident. If you or a loved one has been treated for a brain injury following an accident, contact us today to learn more about your legal rights.