When someone suffers a spinal cord injury, it is very important that they understand what type of impact this is going to have on the rest of their life. In many cases, these are serious injuries from which a person will never fully recover, and they can often lead to millions of dollars in lifetime costs.
For example, according to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, a 50-year-old person who suffers high tetraplegia could be looking at lifetime costs greater than $2.5 million. If they are younger, such as 25 years old, those costs could be over $4.7 million.
Why is it so expensive?
The key is to take into account all of the potential damages related to one’s injury. This includes emergency treatment immediately after the injury occurs, time spent in the hospital and lost wages.
On the medical side, a person may need to work with a physical therapist, undergo future surgeries, take medication, pay for in-home care or even make renovations to their home so that they can continue to live there comfortably after their injury.
In terms of wages, a person could lose the ability to work in their chosen field entirely. They may have reduced earning potential or a reduced earning capacity, and they often deserve compensation for their lost future wages.
Seeking appropriate compensation
Because the total cost of a spinal cord injury can be so significant, it is absolutely critical that injury victims understand what legal options they have when holding the responsible party accountable for their harm. Seeking personalized legal guidance immediately is, therefore, generally very wise.