Any injury to the spinal cord, no matter how seemingly minor, can lead to a permanent disability and a lifetime of rehabilitation. When this type of injury is caused by an accident, it becomes increasingly important to accurately calculate the potential long-term cost so that the injured victim can at least be assured that they are financially covered.
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), approximately 18,000 people in the United States suffer a traumatic spinal cord injury every year, not including those who died as a result of their injuries. Approximately 300,000 people are currently living with these injuries today. The most common causes of these types of injuries include:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Physical labor
- Falls
- Sports injury
- Violence (shooting, assault, etc.)
Depending on the exact location of the injury, there are a number of different expenses that come with recovery and rehabilitation. Some of the most common expenses and costs connected to a spinal cord injury include:
- Surgery
- Trauma care
- Rehabilitation
- Long-term care, including in-home assistance
- Medical equipment like wheelchairs
- Medication
Additional non-economic damages are also often extremely relevant, with issues like loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of income or earning potential, and more severely impacting the victim. Without taking these non-economic damages into account, spinal cord injuries can be extremely expensive. The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation breaks down the estimated lifetime costs of these types of injuries both by the age they occurred at and by the location of the injury:
High Tetraplegia (injury to the C1-C4 vertebrae) ASIS ABC
- Injury suffered at 25 years old lifetime cost: $4,724,181
- Injury suffered at 50 years old lifetime cost: $2,596,329
Low Tetraplegia (injury to the C5-C8 vertebrae)
- Injury suffered at 25 years old lifetime cost: $3,451,781
- Injury suffered at 50 years old lifetime cost: $2,123,154
Paraplegia (injury to the T1-L5 vertebrae)
- Injury suffered at 25 years old lifetime cost: $2,310,104
- Injury suffered at 50 years old lifetime cost: $1,516,052
Incomplete motor function (any level)
- Injury suffered at 25 years old lifetime cost: $1,578,274
- Injury suffered at 50 years old lifetime cost: $1,113,990
As these estimates do not include non-economic damages, the actual cost is often significantly higher when every aspect is considered. On top of that, the exact cost of each spinal cord injury needs to be considered on a case-by-case basis to weigh every factor and ensure that the injured victim is not left with insurmountable bills in the years to come.
Calculating the damages associated with your accident is one of the key roles that your legal representation will fill. Working with an experienced law firm that you can trust is important not just to your peace of mind, but is also vital to fight for and secure the maximum compensation possible.
If you were seriously injured in an accident, you may be able to take legal action to secure the compensation you need to cover any medical bills, rehabilitation, lost wages, and other damages incurred. Contact DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC to speak with a Charleston spinal cord injury lawyer and discuss your options today.
