Focused On Helping Brain Injury Victims And Their Families

Compensation came too late to help one victim get the care he needed

On Behalf of | Apr 4, 2016 | Brain Injury

The criminal case involving Ethan Couch, the Texas teen who injured and killed several people in a drunk driving accident, has received considerable attention. Couch received only probation and rehab because a psychologist testified that he suffered from affluenza, meaning that he was not responsible because his affluent childhood had not taught him personal responsibility.

The outcome of the criminal case is undoubtedly shocking. Unfortunately, the victims of the accident received less attention from the media and the court.

Sergio Molina was one of these victims. He suffered a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) after being thrown from the truck Couch was driving. His family could not afford to pay for more than a month of hospital care, so Molina did not receive critical treatment for his TBI.

Why early treatment is important for TBI patients

Molina’s injuries left him in a wheelchair and unable to speak or care for himself. TBI patients typically do better when they receive a timely diagnosis and subsequent treatment. When there is a delay in the diagnosis and treatment, patients may miss critical windows when early treatment can make a difference in their outcome.

All TBI victims need early medical intervention as well as sufficient compensation to cover their extensive medical treatment. Depending on the severity of their injuries, people with TBIs may require lifelong treatment from specialists, costly medications and medical equipment, and home health or long-term facility care.

Insurance companies rarely pay out the amount of compensation necessary to cover these costs. If a loved one has suffered a brain injury, working with an experienced lawyer may help you and your family obtain the compensation you need today and in the future.

Source: The Washington Post, “For victim of ‘affluenza’ teen Ethan Couch, a life of paralysis,” Yanan Wang, Feb. 22, 2016.