What Are the Long-Term Costs of a Traumatic Brain Injury After a Car Crash?

 Posted on September 30, 2025 in Car Accidents

A car crash can change the course of your life in seconds. Among the most serious injuries from car crashes are traumatic brain injuries, also known as TBIs. These injuries can range from concussions to permanent brain damage. The costs of recovery are often far greater than victims or their families expect. The financial, physical, and emotional toll can last for years, and sometimes for a lifetime.

Understanding TBIs and how recovery often works can help you pursue the compensation you deserve. In turn, this ensures that you have the resources you need to move forward. At Schwartz Injury Law, our Kendall County personal injury lawyers have won many cases for clients with brain injuries. Call us today at 708-888-2160 to see how we can help you.

Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries

A traumatic brain injury occurs when the brain is damaged by an external force. This might be caused by a direct impact to the head, such as hitting the steering wheel, dashboard, or window in a car crash. TBIs can also result from violent jolts that cause the brain to move around inside the skull, damaging tissue and blood vessels. In severe accidents, debris may break the skull and directly injure brain tissue.

TBIs vary in severity. Mild TBIs, like concussions, may heal with rest and medical supervision. Moderate to severe TBIs, however, can leave a victim with lasting impairments. These injuries often require extensive treatment and rehabilitation, and many victims are left unable to work, care for themselves, or enjoy the lives they once had.

Immediate and Short-Term Medical Costs for Traumatic Brain Injuries After a Car Accident

Right after a crash, medical bills pile up quickly. Emergency room treatment, diagnostic tests such as CT scans or MRIs, hospital stays, and initial surgeries can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Intensive care may be required if the injury is life-threatening. Some patients need ventilators or other advanced support.

Even in the early stages, costs are not limited to medical bills. Many families face lost income when the injured person cannot return to work. A spouse or family member may also have to take unpaid leave to care for the victim.

Rehabilitation and Therapy for Traumatic Brain Injuries

The long-term costs of a TBI are usually from intense rehabilitative treatment. Victims frequently require months or years of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. These therapies are designed to help victims learn to move and talk again. People with TBIs may also need therapy to relearn basic daily tasks. In severe cases, a person may need therapy for the rest of their life. Rehab can cost hundreds of dollars per session; when treated over years, the cost can be enormous.

Some TBI victims experience ongoing health problems such as seizures, chronic headaches, or trouble sleeping. Monitoring by specialists like neurologists is often necessary and is very expensive. For those with severe brain damage, home health care or assisted living may be necessary. This can reach thousands of dollars each month.

Victims of TBIs may also suffer from depression, anxiety, or mood swings. Changes in personality are common, and these changes can strain family relationships. Spouses and children may struggle to adjust to the "new normal," which sometimes feels like living with a different person altogether. Counseling and psychological support can help, but these services also come with ongoing costs.

The Ripple Effect on Families

As previously mentioned, when a loved one sustains a traumatic brain injury, the entire family feels the impact. In addition to lost income, families often face new expenses related to home modifications such as wheelchair ramps, widened doorways, or accessible bathrooms. Cars may need to be adapted for the injured person. Caregiving can take a toll on family members, leading to stress, burnout, and even lost job opportunities.

Planning for the Future with a Traumatic Brain Injury 

One of the greatest long-term costs of a traumatic brain injury is the loss of income. Many TBI victims are unable to return to their previous jobs. Some can only work part-time or in reduced roles, while others cannot work at all. This loss of earning capacity has a significant impact on the rest of the family. This is particularly true for when younger victims lose decades of potential income. Families must often adjust their financial expectations dramatically, which can affect everything from retirement planning to paying for a child’s education.

Living with a traumatic brain injury means planning for the future in ways most people never expect. Families may need to establish special needs trusts to manage compensation awards and protect eligibility for government benefits. Financial planning is important to ensure that expenses can be covered for decades to come. An attorney experienced in catastrophic injury cases can connect clients with financial and medical professionals who help families navigate these challenges.

Can You Sue After a Car Crash Causes a Brain Injury?

Illinois law allows TBI victims to pursue compensation if the injury was caused by another party’s negligence (735 ILCS 5/2-1116). In the case of a car crash, this might mean a claim against a driver, a trucking company, or another responsible party. Compensation can cover bills, rehab, lost income, pain and suffering, and long-term care.

Proving damages in a TBI case requires expert testimony from medical professionals. You may also need economists and others who can estimate the lifetime costs of the injury. This makes it especially important to work with an experienced law firm that has the resources to build a strong case. At Schwartz Injury Law, our attorneys have won multimillion-dollar settlements for clients facing catastrophic injuries. We have the skill to take on powerful insurance companies and corporations.

Contact a Joliet, IL Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

The long-term costs of a traumatic brain injury after a car crash are huge, affecting every aspect of life from medical bills to moods and feelings. If you or a loved one has suffered a TBI, you can get help.

At Schwartz Injury Law, our skilled Kendall County, IL personal injury attorneys represent clients and their loved ones who are dealing with very serious brain injuries. We have won multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for accident victims, and we are prepared to fight for you.

We offer free consultations and contingency billing. You owe us nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Call 708-888-2160 today to schedule your consultation and take the first step toward getting what you need.