When an individual sets out to engage in a potentially dangerous activity, wisdom dictates making use of protective equipment.
For sports, this may include wearing a helmet as a preventative measure to reduce the chance of suffering brain injury.
Unfortunately, fewer protections exist in the case of motor vehicles. Yet, more than half of all acquired brain injuries in Ontario are the result of car accidents.
Leading cause of death for young Canadians
Statistics available through the Brain Injury Society of Toronto (BIST) show the prevalence of these types of injuries.
Interestingly, traumatic brain injuries affect more people annually than breast cancer, HIV, spinal cord injury and Multiple Sclerosis, combined. That’s over 500,000 new injuries each year across Canada.
In fact, traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of disability and death for Canadians aged 40 and under.
Healthcare costs for brain injuries
In terms of cost, treating a severe brain injury costs the medical system about $400,000 for every case. That adds up to between 2 to 3 billion dollars annually in Ontario alone.
Uninsured costs can add up to far more over time. This is especially true for victims who require home care, and BIST notes that 22 percent of people living with a severe brain injury indicate they never leave their homes.
Brain injuries are very common among accident victims, though the severity will vary from case to case.
Given the potential for long-term difficulties and the high cost of rehabilitation, receiving appropriate compensation after an accident may be seen as essential for continuing support.
