If your spouse suffers a traumatic brain injury (TBI), there are a lot of potential issues that can come along with it. Even after they have gotten their initial medical treatment and made a physical recovery, the injury to their brain may make them different than they were before.
Exactly how this happens differs from case to case. However, experts say that the impact on your relationship could be because your spouse has new limitations, fears, challenges or personality traits – or some combination of all of the above.
The challenge of a changed personality
There are challenges that come along with all of these issues, of course. If your spouse has physical limitations after the accident, they may need help with basic mobility and other tasks that they used to easily do themselves. You may find yourself becoming something of a caretaker for your spouse, which could be a long-term change.
In some ways, though, a changed personality can be the most difficult thing for a loved one to deal with. It just doesn’t feel like your spouse is the same person. Maybe they were laid back before, but now they’re irritable and aggressive. Maybe they were sharp and intellectual before, but now they’re always frustrated because they forget details or can’t accomplish certain tasks. You can wind up feeling like you’re married to someone that you don’t even really know that well.
This is just one of the issues that may arise after a catastrophic brain injury. You and your family need to know about all of your legal options. You may be able to seek compensation for things like medical bills, lost wages, long-term care costs and more.