Spinal cord injuries may happen in a high-speed car accident, but may also be the result of negligence on-premises or at work. Unfortunately, medical science has yet to devise a true cure for SCIs and so if you find yourself the victim of one, it may mean a long road of rehabilitation and high medical costs.
In the case of negligence though, the possibility of compensation for your pain and suffering is still in the cards. Knowing what costs to expect may help you build a better case.
Average costs depend on the severity of SCIs
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, the average first-year cost of your SCI may range between $375,000 and $1.1 million. It all depends on how severe the injury is. Motor functional damage at any level throws real hurdles for you during recovery and may impact your job prospects for the rest of your life.
Lower injuries may still be drastic and give you paraplegia—the partial or full paralysis of your lower half. Catastrophic injuries higher up on the spinal column may give you tetraplegia—similar levels of paralysis but through your whole body. High tetraplegia, or injuries to the C1-C4 vertebrae, pose the greatest risk and highest costs of surgery and recovery.
Subsequent yearly costs
After the first year, most costs involved with an SCI revolve around regular maintenance and rehabilitation. Where motor function loss may cost $375,000 in the first year, subsequent years average around $45,000. High tetraplegia sees subsequent costs averaging just under $200,000
None of these costs take into account lost wages or productivity. Whether you receive an SCI on the job or due to negligence on someone’s premises, the damage may vary but the results are the same: your pain and suffering cost thousands.
