The costs associated with caring for a spinal cord injury

Injuries suffered in a car accident or as the result of medical malpractice can fall anywhere on the spectrum of severity. Some victims are fortunate enough to walk away from their accident with little more than a few bumps and bruises and a story to tell. Other victims though, suffer serious injuries that leave them with extensive pain and emotional turmoil. Far too often, these individuals are left with a disability. Not only does this take away one’s ability to live his or her normal life, but it can also be excruciatingly expensive.

This is especially true for those who suffer a spinal cord injury. For example, those who suffer the loss of any motor function as a result of a spinal cord injury can expect to pay nearly $350,000 in their first year for medical and rehabilitative costs alone. Those with tetraplegia can wind up paying anywhere from approximately $770,000 to more than $1 million for their first year of care.

As if that isn’t enough, the yearly costs to care for these injuries is exorbitant. Those with any incomplete motor function may pay an additional $42,000 a year for care, equating to more than $1.5 million in care for an individual is 25 years old at the time of injury. That same 25-year-old who suffers from high tetraplegia may face more than $4 million in medical expenses.

These figures are nothing short of shocking. At a time when a victim merely wants to focus on reclaiming as much of his or her health as possible, financial losses must be dealt with. Making matters worse, medical and rehabilitative costs may be only a portion of one’s damages. Lost wages, too, can take a significant toll. Have these troubles unexpectedly thrust upon an individual is unfair and, when caused by the negligence of another, cannot be tolerated. When negligence has played a role in suffering a catastrophic injury such as a spinal cord injury, victims need to carefully consider their legal options, as compensation may be recoverable.