When an Illinois resident suffers a severe traumatic brain injury, recovery is a long, slow process. Severe TBI victims always have an initial period of unconsciousness, where they cannot interact with their environment, with their condition also affecting loved ones who must make decisions for them.
Severe TBI recovery stages
Severe brain injuries often result from catastrophic motor vehicle accidents and other events where serious injuries occur. Victims frequently spend months in the hospital for acute care, followed by time in a rehabilitation facility to continue recovery. Some never fully recover and remain permanently disabled.
Those who endure severe TBIs go through the following stage:
- A complete state of unconsciousness called a come
- Vegetative state where wakefulness occurs intermittently
- Minimally conscious state with increasing periods of awareness
- Emergence from minimal consciousness with victims beginning to communicate purposely
- Post-traumatic confusion, sometimes accompanied by post-traumatic amnesia
Not all victims go through the last stage, as all TBIs are different. Because of that difference, you’ll find no set time for victims to remain in a specific stage. Depending on the injury, those suffering severe TBIs often have incredibly high medical bills because of the number of professionals who treat them.
Unique challenges posed by brain injuries
TBIs, especially severe ones, are one of the most challenging personal injuries that someone can suffer because the possible disabilities involved may not be readily apparent to some people. When victims recover, their quality of life is almost always compromised, sometimes significantly. Brain injuries are often the result of someone else’s negligence.
If you or a member of your family has suffered a severe TBI, you may be able to file a claim for compensation from the individual who caused the injury. You may use the proceeds from a successful claim for medical treatments, living expenses and lost earnings.