The Law Offices of Chaikin and Sherman, P.C.
Toll Free - 800.229.8384
Phone - 202.659.8600
Fax - 202.659.8680
Caregivers for Traumatic Brain Injury Victims
Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland
If your loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury that left him or her seriously disabled, someone has to care for him or her. Most likely, that duty will fall to you, either in whole or in part. When you find yourself in this situation, you may suffer significantly in terms of your ability to retain your job to pay for additional expenses related to providing care, not to mention the expenses associated with your loved one's injury. If you are in this situation, a traumatic brain injury lawsuit can help defray your costs and provide monetary support for your injured loved one.
If your loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury that has radically changed both your lives, a lawsuit cannot make life as it was before the accident, but it can help you transition into a new life. To learn how we can help you, please call or email Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel, P.C. today.
Who Are the Caregivers?
Brain injury victims and their families are unlikely to be able to afford professional caregivers. Most likely the victim's caregiver is a family member. Since most traumatic brain injury victims are men, most caregivers are women. Since the peak age for acquiring traumatic brain injuries is from 15 to 24, most often the caregiver is the mother or wife of the victim. With a secondary peak for brain injury occurring over 60, the caregivers are also often a son or daughter of the victim.
Caregiver Burden
When you are caring for a loved one who has suffered a traumatic brain injury, you carry an incredible burden. Psychologists talk regularly about the "caregiver burden," and divide it between the objective burden and the subjective burden. The objective burden of caregivers is the burden that can easily be seen and measured. It is the time you sacrifice to care for your loved one and the cost to you of that time in terms of lost wages, and a diminution of your ability to enjoy the activities you enjoyed before your loved one's accident.
Your subjective burden is the stress, depression, and other negative feelings that come from your objective burden. Caregivers often feel trapped, isolated, and abandoned by friends and family. Most feel depression and anxiety, and many require medication to remain functional. Under the constant stress, many caregivers grow ill themselves. Some lose their ability to care for themselves and their loved ones.
Help for Caregivers
In recent years, there have been attempts made to increase support systems for caregivers. These programs range include invitations to participate in rehabilitation (to produce feelings of empowerment and hope), support groups, and supplementary caregivers.
Unfortunately, charitable aid is limited, and for many caregivers without a strong social and familial support network, the only option for experiencing a real reduction of burden is hiring professional help.
A traumatic brain injury lawsuit is also an important mechanism for helping caregivers. If your loved one has recently been injured as a result of someone else's negligence, you may be looking at a lifetime of caring for him. Compensation from a brain injury lawsuit can reduce your objective burden and help you remain emotionally stronger so you can continue to care for your loved one and yourself longer.
If you would like to learn more about support groups for caregivers, please see our brain injury support groups page. If you are interested in pursuing a brain injury lawsuit in Washington, D.C.; Maryland, or Virginia, please contact the personal injury lawyers of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel, P.C. today.
