Spinal Cord Injuries

The Lifetime Costs of Spinal Injuries

The lifetime costs associated with a spinal cord injury (SCI) can be extremely high. The potential expenses from this type of injury depend largely on the accident victim’s age when he or she suffers the injury, along with the severity of the injury and the force of the impact. Many spinal cord injuries happen when an accident victim’s neck or back suffers a sharp blow – or when the neck or back forcefully strikes the ground. These injuries are especially common in motor vehicle accidents, including motorcycle accidents, and on the job (e.g., at a factory, plant, or construction site where heavy equipment is present).

If you or someone you love has sustained a debilitating spinal cord injury in an accident caused by someone else – or in a workplace accident – you might be eligible to file a personal injury claim or a claim for workers’ compensation. A skilled Austin spinal cord injury attorney at Terry & Kelly Attorneys could investigate your claim and assist you with filing a claim against the proper individuals. 

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

There are various types of spinal cord injuries that the victim of a serious accident could experience. Those injuries include complete tetraplegia, complete paraplegia, incomplete paraplegia, and incomplete tetraplegia. 

The yearly costs associated with these types of paralysis depend heavily upon the accident victim’s specific level of neurological impairment, education level, and employment history before he or she was injured. These costs can include the following:

• $1,064,716 for the first year (and $184,891 for each subsequent year), in cases of high tetraplegia (C1-C4)
• $769,351 for the first year (and $113,423 for each subsequent year), in cases of low tetraplegia (C5-C8)
• $518,904 for the first year (and $68,739 for each subsequent year), in cases of paraplegia
• $347,484 for the first year (and $42,206 for each subsequent year), in cases of incomplete motor function at any level

The estimated lifetime care costs associated with a spinal cord injury can include $4,724,181 (for someone 25 years old) and $2,596,329 (for someone 50 years old), for high tetraplegia. The potential costs are $3,451,781 (for someone 25 years old) and $2,123,154 (for someone 50 years old) for lower tetraplegia.

Estimated lifetime care costs are $2,310,104 (25 years old) and $1,516,052 (50 years old) for sufferers of paraplegia – and $1,578,274 (25 years old) and $1,113,990 (50 years old), for sufferers of incomplete motor function at any level. 

Pursuing Compensation for Spinal Cord Injuries

Accident victims have the burden of proof when it comes time to causally relating their spinal injuries to a car accident or other accident. In some cases, testimony from a medical provider or other healthcare expert is necessary. A medical expert can testify about these projected future costs and medical procedures, and they can establish that it was an accident (as opposed to pre-existing injuries or medical conditions) that led to the spinal cord injury in the first place.

Call an Austin Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Today

If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident, call the experienced lawyers at Terry & Kelly Attorneys today. Our legal team can help you pursue the compensation and lifetime care costs you or your loved one need. To schedule a free legal consultation and case evaluation with an Austin spinal cord injury attorney, give us a call today at (512) 910-2000 or contact us online.