If you suffer a spinal cord injury and you’re trying to seek compensation from the party that was responsible—such as if you were injured in a car accident—then you’ll likely start by considering all of the medical bills from the accident. This could include things like treatment in the emergency room, time spent in the hospital, surgical procedures that were carried out and much more.
While all of this is important, you also want to think of the long-term costs of a spinal cord injury. This can be a life-changing injury, perhaps limiting your ability to work or earn a living in the future. It may also mean that you need in-home assistance or medical care, such as rehabilitation services, for the rest of your life.
What is the true cost?
One way to see how the long-term costs are important is to consider your age when you suffer the spinal cord injury. Per the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, a person who suffers a low tetraplegia spinal cord injury—between the C5 vertebrae and the C8 vertebrae—will likely face lifetime costs of around $2,100,000 if they are 50 years old when they’re injured. This could be an injury they have to live with for the next 20 or 30 years.
However, if they are 25 years old when they’re injured, then the lifetime costs go up to over $3,400,000. While many of the initial costs, such as emergency surgery, may be the same, the long-term costs have shifted significantly. The younger person may need to seek far more financial compensation from the responsible party.
These are just a few of the details to keep in mind after an injury. Take the time to carefully consider your rights to compensation and your legal options.