Statistics confirm that traumatic brain injury is the number one disabler and killer of Canadians under the age of 40. In Ontario, it is estimated that 16,000 Ontario residents are afflicted with a traumatic brain injury yearly, meaning that every day, 44 Ontario citizens are injured in some sort of accident that causes trauma to the head, a staggering figure.
About half of all acquired brain injuries reported in Ontario are the result of auto collisions, with the other half credited to illness, work-related injuries, sports injuries, falls, and crimes. Acquired brain injuries have life-long consequences to survivors, with many of those suffering catastrophic injuries never being capable of leaving their homes after the accident which caused their injury. In addition, the cost of the healthcare that a brain injury survivor requires is astronomical. Billions of dollars each year go to expenses like:
- Neurosurgery
- Coma and low level state maintenance
- Extensive therapy
- Loss of employment
- Loss of productivity
Brain Injury Association Canada Statistics Concerning Cost of Care of Brain Injury Survivors
According to the Brain Injury Association Canada the “direct and indirect costs associated with traumatic brain injury in Canada are $3 billion annually,” with the cost of care being born by a variety of sources that include:
- Municipal, provincial, and federal governments – most provinces do not have a central policy or planning department for brain injury survivors. However, many aspects of brain injury care costs are under provincial jurisdiction, which many times lack adequate or appropriate rehabilitation facilities.
- Workers’ compensation – Services for brain injury survivors are spread over a variety of ministries that include Health, Education & Training, Workers’ Compensation and Community and Social Services
- Private insurance
- Private individuals
No matter who or what entity pays for the medical expenses of a brain injury survivor, care of brain injury survivors and their families is expensive. And, when families are left to their own devices to care for a brain injured loved one, the burden can be too much to fathom. Sometimes the only means of providing for the care of a brain injured loved one is by means of a lawsuit against the party responsible for the accident which caused the injury.
An Experienced Ottawa Brain Injury Lawyer is Your Best Source of Information Concerning a Brain Injury Lawsuit
If you or a loved one has sustained a brain injury at the hands of another through a careless accident or from an intentional act, you may have the right to file a lawsuit against that individual, his or her insurance company or both for damages. An experienced Ottawa brain injury lawyer is your best source of information concerning the viability of any acquired brain injury lawsuit you might have. Contact a personal injury lawyer experienced in brain injury litigation to determine if you have a brain injury claim and to determine what compensation you may be entitled to.
