If someone suffers a spinal cord injury, there’s a good chance that it’s going to be a significant long-term issue. In many cases, people simply cannot fully recover. Someone may have lasting back pain, limited mobility issues or even a full disability, such as paraplegia.
This is important to understand because it means that the costs can extend far beyond other injuries. Say that a person was injured in a semi-truck accident. They would have immediate costs for things like an emergency room visit, treatment in the hospital or even the ride in the ambulance. But those may pale in comparison to their lifetime costs if they’re going to be living with a significant spinal cord injury forever.
Age and injury type
Two of the biggest factors are the type of injury and the person’s age when they suffer that injury. For instance, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation estimates that a low tetraplegia will cost roughly $770,000 the first year and $113,000 every year after that. A high tetraplegia, on the other hand, may cost more than $1 million the first year and around $185,000 annually for subsequent years.
When it comes to age, they estimate that the total lifetime costs for someone with a low tetraplegia will be around $3,400,000 if they are 25 years old when they suffer that injury. If they are 50 years old, though, the estimate drops to $2,123,000.
Seeking full compensation
If you have suffered such an injury, look at these numbers carefully. Do not accept a settlement offer that isn’t going to provide for your actual financial needs. Carefully consider all of the options you have and your long-term costs.