When people think of a person who has suffered a brain injury, they might realize that the initial medical care is costly and often lengthy. What they might not realize is that on-going medical care can be just as costly. In some cases, frequent trips to the hospital are part of normal life for a person with a brain injury. As you can imagine, these trips for medical care can be very difficult.

A person with a traumatic brain injury might find him or herself in the emergency room of the hospital because of troubling symptoms like severe headaches that are indicative of increased pressure on the brain. In most cases, imaging tests are done to determine what is going on. These tests can include x-rays, CT scans and MRIs. All of those tests are costly.

When the results of the tests come back, the person might be sent home with medication, care instructions and follow-up directions. If there is a problem, the person might be admitted into the hospital. That might mean a stay in the intensive care unit. Oftentimes, the hospital stay includes rehabilitation or is followed by a rehabilitation program.

The care that is necessary after some brain injuries might mean months in the hospital. Not only does this affect the patient’s ability to enjoy life, it can also affect the finances of the family. For that reason, some people who suffer from a brain injury might choose to seek compensation if the accident was caused by another party, such as a semi-truck accident that was caused by a distracted trucker.

Source: Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, “Hospital Care,” accessed Feb. 26, 2016