Severe traumatic brain injuries can require millions of dollars in lifetime medical care. Accurately calculating these costs is essential to ensuring victims have resources for care that may span decades.

Categories of Lifetime Medical Costs

Acute and Initial Care

  • Emergency room treatment
  • Hospital intensive care
  • Surgery
  • Inpatient rehabilitation

Ongoing Medical Care

  • Physician visits (neurologist, physiatrist, primary care)
  • Medication management
  • Monitoring for complications (seizures, cognitive decline)
  • Treatment for secondary conditions

Rehabilitation Services

  • Physical therapy – Motor function, strength, balance
  • Occupational therapy – Daily living skills, adaptive techniques
  • Speech-language therapy – Communication, swallowing, cognitive-linguistic skills
  • Cognitive rehabilitation – Memory, attention, executive function training

Medications

  • Anti-seizure medications
  • Antidepressants and mood stabilizers
  • Pain management
  • Sleep aids
  • Other symptom management medications

Mental Health Treatment

  • Psychotherapy for depression, anxiety, adjustment
  • Psychiatric medication management
  • Support groups

Medical Equipment

  • Wheelchairs and mobility devices
  • Hospital beds
  • Communication devices
  • Monitoring equipment

Cost Ranges

Lifetime care costs vary dramatically by injury severity:

  • Mild TBI with recovery: $50,000 - $200,000
  • Moderate TBI with lasting effects: $500,000 - $2 million
  • Severe TBI requiring ongoing care: $3 million - $15+ million

Life Care Planning

Life care planners are specialized experts who document all anticipated medical needs and their costs. Their detailed reports project care requirements year by year through the victim's life expectancy.

Present Value Calculations

Future medical costs must be reduced to present value—accounting for inflation, medical cost trends, and investment returns.

Conclusion

Underestimating lifetime medical costs leaves TBI victims without resources for essential care. Comprehensive life care planning by qualified experts ensures settlements and verdicts account for true lifetime needs.