One of the problems that people who have sustained a brain injury face is the ability to secure employment. Even if they have recovered and are able to think, write and speak, they may still appear to prospective employers as disabled. According to 2014 statistics by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, just 17 percent of disabled people were employed. Of those, a third were working part-time.

One vocational rehabilitation manager said, “Whatever the disability, they are considered ‘other, not normal,’ they’re not the typical employee. And always underestimated.”

One man who went on to get a college degree after suffering a traumatic brain injury caused by a vehicle striking the car he was riding in with his brother when he was a teenager, says that he’s had trouble getting a job. That’s partly because he’s had little work experience because he was recovering from his injuries.

However, even though his mind is functioning, he still has a difficult time making quick decisions and occasionally says something inappropriate. The fact that he can no longer drive makes getting to and from work an added challenge. He speaks quietly, due to his brain injury, which can also give perspective employers pause and cause them not to hire him instead of other candidates.

Brain injuries are among the most complex that a person can suffer. It’s often difficult to assess the full extent of the injury and the ramifications to a person’s life right away. That’s why it’s essential when seeking compensation for those injuries to factor in the possible impacts well into the future. Experienced Colorado personal injury attorneys can help you do that so that you and your family have the financial resources you need, both now and going forward.

Source: NewHampshire.com, “The big obstacle on his road back from brain injury: Getting hired,” Melanie Plenda, June 17, 2016