it really does matter what causes your brain injury, and if you don’t have personal or work insurance or you’re not going through motor vehicle accident insurance, it can lead to significant financial loss. that said, a good lawyer can provide guidance and advice, and get you access to the services you need, especially if you’re living outside of a major city centre. in the first two years of my recovery, i would have spent more than $100,000 on rebuilding my life, very little of which i have had to pay out of pocket.
as many other survivors might attest to, dealing with insurance companies after an accident can be very stressful. they didn’t care about what i was going through — they had their own agenda. for example, in the accident, i reinjured a knee which was operated on years earlier. the insurance company sent me to their surgeon for an assessment and it happened to be the same doctor who performed surgery on my knee — he had retired and was now working for the insurance company. in his report, he indicated that my knee was completely fine. i lost a lot of trust in the medical system after that.
the brain injury has had a significant impact on my life. it took away my livelihood and changed my personality. i’m highly introverted now and sometimes, i don’t want to be around people, especially in social settings with simultaneous conversations. it can be overwhelming and trigger an anxiety attack.
many experts will tell you that the first two years after a brain injury marks all the progress you’re going to make, but i am living proof that that’s not true at all. i’m still working at it and making progress 13 years after the accident. i’m so grateful to organizations such as the
ontario brain injury association
, which helped to encourage me not to listen to the prognosis, but to work hard and try different strategies and new routines. routine, strategies, reminder lists, and electronic devices are very important in a brain injury survivor’s life, along with medications, mindfulness, meditation and a good night’s sleep, which doesn’t often happen.