A wreck that claimed four lives this April has also left a University of Georgia student with serious brain injuries requiring lengthy treatment and rehabilitation.

Agnes Kim, a 21-year-old student from Snellville, is receiving treatment at the Shepherd Center after her condition was upgraded from critical to serious. Before being transferred to the rehabilitation facility, she spent two weeks in critical condition at Athens Regional Medical Center following a crash in which her car crossed the center lane of Highway 15 and struck another vehicle. Four of her friends were killed in the wreck. The driver of the other car suffered injuries but was released from the hospital.

The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, but authorities do not suspect that Kim was speeding or intoxicated at the time of the wreck.

Brain injury symptoms can last a lifetime

Recovery from traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can be extremely slow. In many cases, patients only achieve a partial recovery and often have lifelong deficiencies in cognition and motor skills in addition to changes in behavior. Those who have suffered these serious injuries, like Agnes Kim, need special care as they begin their recovery. Kim is involved in a program for those who are unconscious or minimally conscious. She will be monitored closely and shielded from stimulation until her condition further improves.

As patients reach a higher level of consciousness, they and their families undergo training and therapy to help them adjust to the patient’s new mental condition. Therapy helps those with brain injuries learn to move, communicate and care for themselves as much as possible, while teaching families how to provide support and care to their loved ones.

Personal injury lawsuits related to brain injuries frequently involve compensation for past and future medical expenses, often including the lifelong care that is necessary for patients with TBIs.

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury as the result of negligence, consult the knowledgeable and caring Atlanta accident attorneys at McMenamy Law LLC for help pursuing compensation.