Traumatic brain injuries can be serious and life threatening, but when the victim is an elderly person, it presents unique concerns. Severe traumatic brain injuries can leave the victim with permanent disabilities and restrictions even if he/she was previously healthy and young. However, when an elderly person suffers a traumatic brain injury in a personal injury accident, the resulting damage can present unique challenges for the victim, his/her family, and attorney. If the case is not handled properly during the investigative stage, the elderly victim may not get the damages that they deserve. The damages may be reduced or even denied.
Traumatic brain injury patients who are above the age of 40 years should consult with a Chicago personal injury attorney who understands the effects of age and other conditions on the brain when combined with a traumatic brain injury. This can help elderly TBI victims get maximum compensation for their injury.
TBI Among Elderly Victims
A traumatic brain injury can cause irreparable damage to the brain. It may cause death of the brain tissue, which can affect the patient’s ability to lead a normal life. Some of the concerns that are present in older victims of TBI include:
Effect of age on outcome of the traumatic brain injury
The older the victim is, the more likely a traumatic brain injury will result in serious damage. With age, the brain loses some ability to heal itself and restore functioning. Older victims are more likely to experience severe disabilities.
Combination of age and traumatic brain injury
As we age, our brains tend to decay. A traumatic brain injury can aggravate the rate of decay in older traumatic brain injury victims. The patient may not be able to recover any damages for the atrophy that occurred naturally before the injury, but any decay or atrophy that is attributable to TBI can help establish the severity of the injury. It is the responsibility of the victim and his/her lawyer to provide evidence to distinguish naturally occurring atrophy from injury related atrophy. This can have a huge impact on the final compensation award.
Alzheimer’s or Dementia and Traumatic Brain injury
Traumatic brain injury is known to be a risk factor in the development of Alzheimer’s disease later in life. If the elderly victim had Alzheimer’s or dementia prior to the traumatic brain injury, proper evidence and expert testimony may be required to establish aggravation of preexisting conditions due to the TBI.
For an elderly victim, life after a traumatic brain injury can become extremely difficult. The victim may need extensive treatment and lifelong care. This could mean thousands of dollars’ worth of expenditure. A qualified Chicago Injury lawyer can put together a strong case and develop a narrative that can help get the rightful compensation to cover all the damages that resulted from TBI.
Call Willens Law Offices at (312) 957-4166 to schedule a free consultation with an awarded Chicago injury lawyer!
