While mild brain injuries such as concussions often result in a full recovery, the prognosis isn’t always as positive for more severe brain injuries. The human body has a remarkable ability to heal, and that includes the brain. However, when suffering a traumatic brain injury, it is common to experience at least some permanent effects.
The following factors will have a significant impact on the extent to which you are able to recover after a traumatic brain injury:
In cases of very severe brain injuries, emergency medical care may be required in a timely manner to prevent additional permanent damage from occurring. Once your injury has been stabilized, the road to recovery may prove long and difficult. Ongoing rehabilitation may be required for months or even years after a brain injury, and some individuals require lifetime care.
In general, brain injury victims experience the greatest strides in their recovery during the first six months. However, your brain is capable of continuing to heal for two years after sustaining a serious injury. While you may experience continued improvement beyond two years, it often is due to your brain learning how to compensate for certain losses of function rather than to an improvement in your overall condition. Ongoing rehabilitation is often crucial in getting your brain to relearn certain functions after TBI.
Due to the significant variation associated with every brain injury, it can be difficult to predict the rate and extent of recovery you will experience. All brain injury victims will require a different length of time before they can return to work, live an independent life, and function without supervision or daily care.
The TBI Model System program has drawn several conclusions about where brain injury victims are in the recovery process after two years:
Keep in mind that these are general benchmarks. Every brain injury victim will recover at a different rate. For some, they will experience a more complete recovery. For others, they may experience more permanent effects.
The road to recovery after a traumatic brain injury is long, arduous and expensive. The ongoing medical and rehabilitation costs, as well as lost wages, can be financially crippling. If your brain injury was caused by the negligence of another, the Jensen Phelan Law Firm can help. We have over 40 years of combined experience handling brain injury cases, and we’ll fight aggressively to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Our Cottonwood personal injury attorneys understand the complex medical issues associated with brain injuries, and we will work with a team of experts who can assess the full extent of your long-term damage. This is crucial to ensuring that your compensation reflects the costs you will incur down the road as you continue working towards a full recovery.
Please contact the Jensen Phelan Law Firm using the form on this page or call (928) 778-2660 today to schedule a complimentary consultation. We serve clients in Prescott, Prescott Valley, Cottonwood and the surrounding areas of Northern Arizona.