Delivering The Help You Need

How costly is it to live with spinal cord injuries?

| Jun 13, 2018 | Spinal Cord Injuries

Anyone who has had the grave misfortune of suffering spinal cord injuries can tell you that your life going forward will change in major ways. Along with a potential loss of mobility and independence, victims of these catastrophic injuries must also face massive medical bills. These expenses begin in the immediate aftermath of the injury and can continue indefinitely or for the rest of the victim’s life.

One of the most unfortunate by-products of a catastrophic injury is that the victim must worry about how he or she is going to pay for the necessary treatment associated with the injury. Even with health insurance, they can expect to pay hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars for long-term care.

For example, someone is suffering from tetraplegia (paralysis in all four limbs) high on the spinal cord will typically pay more than $1 million for treatment during the first year after the injury. Further, this same patient will probably spend close to $185,000 each year following the injury. Even less serious spinal cord injuries can cost over $300,000 for the first year and about $40,000 each year after the injury.

These costs can be devastating to victims already facing the task of trying to adjust to a new way of life. However, when spinal cord injuries occur because of another party’s negligence, victims in Georgia can pursue financial damages in a personal injury claim.

If you or a loved one has been injured by another party’s negligence or actions, the compensation you may get in a successful suit can help minimize the worry of paying for health care.

Source: Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, “Costs of living with SCI,” accessed June 13, 2018

Archives