Many injuries create short-term costs. If you suffer a broken leg in a car accident, you are going to need transportation to the hospital, you may need surgery on the broken leg, and you are going to miss work while you recover.
But with something as significant as a spinal cord injury, it is also important to think about the long-term costs. After all, an SCI can be a life-changing condition, and a permanent injury could have a dramatic impact on the financial damages you face in the future. You may never be able to return to work, for example, or you may have a reduced earning capacity. You may need in-home care or ongoing medical treatment to help you adjust to living with the SCI.
Potential projected costs
While it is true that every SCI case is unique, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation has put together a list of average yearly costs for common spinal cord injuries:
- High tetraplegia: $1,064,716 in the first year and $184,891 annually
- Low tetraplegia: $769,351 in the first year and $113,423 annually
- Paraplegia: $518,904 in the first year and $68,739 annually
- Incomplete motor function: $347,484 in the first year and $42,206 annually
These are just estimates, so your specific costs could be even higher. There could be complications that necessitate future medical care, for example, or you may have been a high-income earner prior to the injury, so your projected future losses would be higher than they are for someone else. It is very important to consider all of the specifics of your case and know what steps to take to seek the compensation you deserve.