A spinal cord injury is one of the most serious injuries a person can suffer in a car crash. In many cases, these injuries do not fully heal and become lifelong disabilities. In just a second, a person’s life changes forever.
So how much is that injury going to cost? It is different in every single case, and people need to consider both long-term and short-term costs. They need to look at the medical bills they’ll be facing, the ongoing treatment they may need, lost wages and even a reduction to their earning capacity moving forward. Let’s take a look at a few examples below.
Paraplegia
Paraplegia is when someone loses motor function below the waist. They may have to use a wheelchair and need assistance with physical tasks. According to some estimates, this could lead to over $500,000 in bills the first year alone, with nearly $70,000 due for every subsequent year that the person is living with this injury.
High tetraplegia
High tetraplegia, on the other hand, is much higher—between the C1 and C4 vertebrae. This could lead to a loss of almost all motor function below the point of injury. The cost in the first year could be over $1 million. After that, the individual may have ongoing costs of nearly $185,000.
Seeking compensation
The above gives you some idea of how expensive these injuries can be. But these are just estimates, and every case will be unique. If you are facing significant costs, take the time to carefully look into all of the legal options at your disposal.