The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center does an excellent job breaking down these injuries. There are nearly 300,000 people living in the US with a SCI. Each year, there are approximately 17,000 new spinal cord injuries.
What causes these injuries?
The most common causes are vehicle accidents and falls, making up almost 70 percent of new cases. Other causes are violence (usually gun shots), sports injuries, and medical errors.
Everyone is susceptible to these kinds of injuries.
Severity And Cost
How much these injuries cost medically usually depends on how severe the injury is. Quadriplegia is the most severe, with victims losing most or all use of all four limbs. The first year of medical expenses for quadriplegia ranges from $770,000 to over $1 million. Lifetime costs after the first year are estimated to range from $3.5 million to over $4.7 million.
Paraplegia, the loss of function of the lower limbs, see first year costs of around $519,000. Lifetime costs after the first year are expected to be over $2.3 million.
Those are just the medical expenses. This does not cover lost income for the victim and any family member who has to stay with them at the hospital or has to become the caregiver. These costs do not include any adjustments that may have to be made to the home or a vehicle that can accommodate a wheelchair.
These is also no way to factor in the emotional costs of dealing with this type of injury. It is a complete lifestyle change for everyone involved.
Will your insurance cover all of these expenses, medical and otherwise?
Was this injury the result of someone else’s negligence? A drunk driver? A careless work environment?
How To Move Forward
Recovering from and adjusting to a spinal cord injury is a hard process for everyone involved, but we want to make it a bit easier. The Dante Law Firm, P.A. wants to make sure you get the compensation you need for your considerable medical bills, but also for more.
We know the hidden costs can ruin people financially, but if someone else’s negligence caused the injury, we will make sure you get the money you deserve. We know these injuries are often a lifetime commitment, so let us help make sure you have the money to handle this. You can contact us by clicking here or calling 305-949-2526 for a free consultation.