TBIs from Car Accidents: How Much Are Long-Term Care Costs?

Every year, around 2 million Americans suffer traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and car accidents are one of the leading causes. Even more alarmingly, 80,000 of those brain injuries result in lasting disabilities.

Treating and caring for TBIs long-term costs the U.S. an estimated $30 billion a year. Even with private insurance, families often face out-of-pocket expenses averaging $35,000 annually. In Iowa, long-term care such as assisted living averages about  $5,184 per month, straining households over time.

When a brain injury leads to lifelong expenses, families deserve both clarity and support. A skilled Des Moines car accident lawyer can help map out those needs and fight for the necessary resources.

Major Categories of Long-Term Costs

When a brain injury changes the course of someone’s life, the costs don’t stop with the hospital bill. These categories show the most common expenses families may need to prepare for:

Ongoing Medical Care and Therapy

Survivors of TBIs often need lifelong medical attention, from follow-up visits and neurological assessments to specialized therapy.

Typical costs include:

• Initial hospitalization: $2,000 to $400,000+, with averages near $87,000.
• Inpatient rehabilitation: Around $1,600 per day, often totaling tens of thousands over time.
• Outpatient therapy: $30–$400 per session for physical, occupational, or speech therapy.

Medical and therapy expenses may continue for years, making them one of the highest long-term costs.

Home Modifications for Accessibility

When a brain injury causes mobility issues, the injury victim’s home often needs to be adapted for their safety and independence. These modifications may include:

• Basic ramps and entry modifications: $1,000–$10,000+.
• Bathroom and shower alterations: $9,000–$48,000.
• Whole-home modifications: A few hundred to over $50,000, depending on the extent of changes.

Every dollar represents a family learning to adapt to a new way of life. For many survivors, these changes make living with comfort and dignity at home possible.

Assistive Technology and Adaptive Equipment

Specialized devices help survivors maintain independence and adapt to new challenges.

Common expenses are:

• Manual wheelchair: $200–$450 for a basic setup to meet everyday mobility needs.
• Power wheelchair: Typically around $3,250, but can reach $6,000 or more.
• Speech or communication devices: Several hundred dollars for tools like speech tablets, or more than $16,000 for advanced Grid Pads.

Assistive devices don’t last forever, and replacing or upgrading them becomes another ongoing cost families must plan for.

Long-Term Care Facilities and In-Home Nursing

Some survivors need daily assistance, either through in-home aides or residential facilities.

Typical care expenses cover:

• Home health aide: Around $39 per hour, totaling over $81,000 annually for full-time care.
• Assisted living facility: Averages about $62,208 annually in Iowa.
• Nursing home: About $107,000 annually for a semi-private room or nearly $116,000 for a private space.

When continuous care is required, these expenses often outpace all other categories and place the heaviest burden on families.

Lost Earning Capacity

TBIs can change or end a career, while family caregivers may also lose income to provide care.

Financial losses can include:

• Lost income for the injured person: Earnings may drop by hundreds of thousands of dollars over the patient’s lifetime.
• Lost income for caregivers: Family members who reduce hours or leave the workforce entirely to provide care face long-term financial setbacks.
• Employment supports: Vocational rehabilitation may cost thousands annually without guaranteeing restored earning power.

Indirect impacts on career and income are harder to measure but can create some of the greatest challenges for families.

Transportation and Specialized Travel

Keeping up with care requires reliable transportation, which brings its own costs.

Families often face expenses such as:

• Medical appointment travel: With gas averaging $3.05 per gallon, regular trips for care can add hundreds each year in fuel, parking, and related costs.

• Adaptive vehicle modifications: Wheelchair lifts or van conversions often range $20,000-$45,000.
• Replacement vehicles: Because adaptive equipment rarely transfers, each new vehicle adds substantial expense.

Survivors depend on consistent travel options to keep up with treatment, and any gap in support can set back progress.

Working With Experts to Calculate Lifetime Costs

TBI recovery is an ongoing process, and calculating lifetime care requires specialized expertise. At Mueller, Schmidt, Mulholland & Cooling, our brain injury attorneys collaborate with life care planners, medical professionals, and economists to build a clear picture of future needs.

Experts can assess:

Category	How They Estimate It
Therapies and Medical Visits	Review medical records, treatment guidelines, and physician input to project how often and how long care will be required.
Adaptive Devices	Consider expected device lifespan, wear-and-tear, and replacement cycles to calculate future purchases over decades.
Home and Vehicle Modifications	Assess current living arrangements, mobility limitations, and safety risks to estimate construction or modification costs.
Lost Income	Use work history, education, age, and career trajectory to project lifetime earning potential with and without the injury.

 

Our attorneys focus on the present and the future, building a lifetime care plan to secure the support you and your family will need in the future.

Fighting for Your Future After a TBI

A brain injury raises questions about how to afford care not only today, but for decades ahead. At Mueller, Schmidt, Mulholland & Cooling, our attorneys build strong cases backed by medical and economic experts. We’ve helped families secure compensation that covers medical care, lost wages, and ongoing support.

If you or a loved one has suffered a TBI in a car accident, we can help bring you peace of mind by making sure tomorrow’s care is planned for.  Contact us today for a free consultation.