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How traumatic brain injuries impact your earning potential

On Behalf of | Oct 5, 2018 | Personal Injury

You have to work hard to get a job that pays you well for the work you do. The best paying jobs, other than those that involve entertainment or athletics, generally require either years of experience or an expensive education.

When you know what you are passionate about, it makes sense to invest your time, mental effort and finances in college, graduate school, medical school, law school, an apprenticeship or a skilled trade education. You may spend many years developing the skills that help you earn the best possible wage in your field.

Whether you work as an engineer or a dentist, your education and experience is part of what helps you command a wage that supports your family well. After a car accident that causes a brain injury, you may find yourself unable to return to work even if you don’t have visible injuries.

The human brain is delicate

Everything you know is information stored inside your brain. Every quirk of your personality and mood you experience results from electrical and chemical activity in your brain. Even your ability to move and communicate comes from your brain. While neuroscience has developed significantly in recent decades, there is much about the human brain that we either do not understand or cannot manipulate and cure with modern medicine.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a frustrating reality for thousands of American adults. These injuries can cause permanent issues due to penetrating injuries, swelling or bleeding on the brain. The affected areas and symptoms that result from a TBI vary from person to person, depending on the nature, severity and location of the brain injury. In some cases, when it affects cognition, memory, motor function or even personality, people with TBIs can no longer work in the field they spent so long preparing for.

Even those who may appear unchanged after an accident can experience devastating effects from a TBI that make any kind of skilled work that relies on education or memory impossible.

The person who caused the crash may be responsible for your lost wages

Just because you remain physically able to work does not mean that you should have to accept a minimum wage job after a lifetime of earning six figures. If someone else caused the car crash that resulted in a TBI and your inability to continue your career, that individual may be responsible for all of your lost wages.

It’s important to educate yourself about Colorado state laws regarding personal injury in car accidents. You should also familiarize yourself with the details of the case by reviewing the accident report filed by law enforcement and other pertinent records. This can help you determine how strong your case for compensation may be.