What Support Systems Are Available for Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors in Michigan

How Can a Traumatic Brain Injury Change My Life?

Traumatic brain injuries can devastate your or a loved one’s life. Of course, each case differs, as does the severity and longevity of your injury, but even moderate TBI injuries can be life-changing.

Most TBIs have a temporary or lasting impact on life, relationships, finances, careers, etc. Even when mild, TBIs can sometimes cause extreme physical, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive alterations.

For example, TBI that affects the left side of the brain usually causes issues with logic and speech, trouble understanding others, and even difficulty carrying on an intelligent, well-thought-out conversation.

Suppose the right side of your brain is damaged. In that case, you may have issues processing visual information, forget or neglect certain functions, and even lose the ability to perform simple everyday tasks.

The medical community’s ability to treat these injuries has indeed advanced, but still, statistics show that 50% of people who have TBI will have a decline in their future lives.

Also, it’s vital to note that even after a fall, car accident, etc., you may not exhibit brain injury symptoms until weeks or months later. Therefore, a complete medical exam is always prudent if your head is impacted or harmed.

Let’s say you have a moderate TBI; you still may need ongoing inpatient rehabilitation, and your life expectancy can be shortened by about nine years.

Additionally, any TBI may commonly increase your risk of dying from other related medical issues, such as:

• Intermittent seizures – These are 50 times more likely to occur.
• Drug poisoning – This is up to 11 times more frequent for TBI victims.
• Infections, which are usually more frequent and severe.
• Pneumonia is up to six times more likely to be severe and cause damage to your lungs and body.

So, although Michigan does have state-run programs and guidance for TBI victims, the costs and time required can make life significantly more complex and expensive.

Therefore, even though some government resources are available, working with a professional, empathetic, and thorough brain injury lawyer will significantly increase your chances of getting the compensation needed to afford the comprehensive and long-term treatment you need.

Does Michigan Provide Any Treatment Support for TBI Victims?

The severity of your TBI could range from causing brief changes in mental status to much more severe symptoms such as extended periods of unconsciousness or amnesia after your injury.

It’s also vital to note that in Michigan, about 30% of TBIs resulted from auto accidents. Michigan provides a very comprehensive no-fault automobile insurance system, and although the services provided to TBI victims are good, the costs can still be enormously high and cause financial chaos in your household.

That said, Michigan has some resources to help acquire treatment and training for TBI sufferers. For example, the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (a Department of Health and Human Services) recently awarded the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) TBI Services and Prevention Council an excellence award.

Michigan TBI Online Training is also an excellent place to learn how to adapt to having a TBI patient in your family and a source of finding other critical help they may need.

This is a free online training course you can take at your own pace. It is beneficial to learn more about TBI, various service providers, how to help loved ones with a brain injury, etc. The training consists of four main courses, giving you valuable insight into this malady.

The Michigan Resource Guide for Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury and Their Families is a well-drafted directory of state and federal resources. It helps persons with TBI find the needed services and provides helpful information for providers and their families.

What Are Some Facts About TBI’s I Should Know?

Any TBI, whether mild or severe, can result in short- or long-term disability, and although Michigan state has resources to point you in the right direction, the cost of caring for loved ones with TBI’s can be financially crippling.

There are many ways you can suffer a TBI, such as a concussion, a penetration injury (a gunshot wound), contusions, diffuse axonal injury (damage to the brain tissue itself), and more. However, they have one thing in common: their treatment is expensive.

Additionally, these injuries (especially in auto accidents) are probably far more common than you might expect.

For example,

• Upwards of 5.3 million Americans currently live with disabilities that are related to some brain injury.
• As a male, you are more than twice as likely as a woman to suffer a TBI.
• TBIs are more common among adolescents (age 15–24) and older adults (those 75 and older).
• Some of the most common causes of TBI are:
  • Slip & fall accidents.
  • Unintentional blunt trauma incidents.
  • Car accidents (usually among the highest percentage).
  • Various forms of violence.
• TBIs contribute to a third of all injury-related deaths in the country.

So, TBIs can happen at any time or any place. Therefore, if another driver or business owner’s negligence contributed to your brain injury, your knowledgeable, persistent, and experienced Michigan brain injury lawyer’s guidance and advice will be invaluable in getting you the medical care and compensation needed for you to make the best recovery possible.

If I, Or a Family Member, Suffer a TBI, What May I Have to Deal With?

A TBI may result in mild, moderate, or severe changes to your behavior, cognition, speaking, physical body functions, social behavior, and more.

Additionally, the consequences of a TBI can last for years or even be a lifelong process. Some people may eventually be able to resume activities they enjoyed before their injury happened. But if your TBI is severe enough, you may never return to functioning as you once did before your injury.

For example, a partial list of some cognitive changes that can occur after you’ve suffered a TBI may include:

• Visibly shortened attention span and memory issues (usually involving short-term memory).
• Difficulty with problem-solving or following directions.
• Poor judgment and issues with making decisions.
• Language issues that may include loss of vocabulary.
• Extreme difficulty learning new things and even doing tasks that were previously quickly done.

Any TBI is severe, and many times, it requires significant changes to one’s former life. If negligence was involved in your accident, the compensation you need to change your life, recover, and move on can be huge. Although it may be legally complex, your dedicated, driven, and determined brain injury lawyer will fight to make sure you have what you need to move on.

I’ve Suffered a Brain Injury and Need to Sue; How Should I Proceed?

No matter how it occurs, brain injuries can have a dire impact on your life and your family.

Although Michigan does provide you with sound resources for effectively finding medical and mental help with these debilitating injuries, unfortunately, any monetary help provided may be insufficient to cover all the costs of your recovery.

Your brain injury lawyer’s expertise, compassion, and drive will prove invaluable in obtaining the funds you and your family must have to move on with your lives.

The Sigal Law Firm has a long and winning history in litigating brain injury lawsuits. They will analyze your unique case and draft a sound legal strategy to proceed as effectively as possible.

Call them today at 248-671-6794 for a free consultation on your case. They will fight tirelessly to ease the financial burdens you’ve incurred and guide you and your family down the best legal path to obtain the compensation you rightfully need and deserve.