Let us say that you were on your way home from a holiday office party when a drunk driver struck your Prius.
Ironically, you abstained from drinking at the party, and now you face the consequences of a traumatic brain injury caused by someone whose BAC was way over the limit. How will you manage?
Drunk driving in Wisconsin
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 30 people die each day in vehicle crashes caused by drunk drivers. Here in Wisconsin, the statistics are sobering: In 2015, 190 people died and 2,900 suffered injuries in alcohol-related traffic accidents. That same year, there were 24,000 drunk driving convictions in our state.
About TBI
Along with falls, motor vehicle crashes are the primary cause of traumatic brain injuries, and the crash could be as seemingly minor as a low speed, rear-end collision. Most of these injuries are of the closed form, caused by a blow to the head. Once the body stabilizes after the impact of a car crash, the brain begins a rewiring process through which the brain cells, or neurons, begin to repair themselves. Unfortunately, these pioneering neurons need help; the patient enters a rehabilitation program for that purpose.
Long-range issues
Everyone who sustains a serious brain injury will have some form of lifelong impairment, but through constant work and dedication to a rehab program, the survivor can relearn forgotten abilities and skills; in many cases, the activities of daily living such as how to walk, eat and get dressed in the morning.
Seeking help
A traumatic brain injury can change your life dramatically, and ongoing treatment is very expensive. However, as the victim of a drunk driving crash, you have a right to expect financial compensation not only to cover your current and future medical expenses, but also lost wages, pain and suffering and more. Rely on an advocate to manage the legal side of the car crash. Your focus should be on making as effective a recovery from your brain injury as possible.