Auto accidents and the costs of spinal cord injuries

On Behalf of | Jan 16, 2020 | Auto Accident

Car accident injuries can fall anywhere on a spectrum of severity for Missourians. Many residents are lucky that they suffer nothing more than some bumps and bruises after a crash, while others are tragically left with serious injuries that completely reshape their lives. For those who fall into the latter category, the damages with which they have to cope can be completely overwhelming. Not only do they have to find a way to deal with the physical pain and suffering inflicted upon them, but they also have to find a way to cover medical expenses and rehabilitation costs that are necessary to spur their recovery efforts. These losses can be quite significant.

As an example, let us look at the costs associated with treating spinal cord injuries. Individuals who suffer a spinal cord injury that leaves them with any kind of incomplete motor function can be dealt with nearly $350,000 in medical costs in the first year of recovery alone. Each subsequent year can cost them an additional $40,000 or so. Individuals who suffer form more serious spinal cord injuries, like high tetraplegia, can face expenses that cross the $1 million mark in the first year of treatment alone and an additional $185,000 for each subsequent year of treatment.

If these figures are not shocking enough, just consider the lifetime costs associated with these injuries. An individual who suffers from incomplete motor function may face up to $1.5 million in lifetime costs, whereas an individual with high tetraplegia can face up to nearly $5 million in costs. These expenses can be completely overwhelming for anyone.

In order to afford this treatment, those who have suffered a spinal cord injury caused by the negligence of another may need pursue a personal injury lawsuit. While an individual must impose liability before compensation can be recovered, he or she must also demonstrate the full extent of his or her damages.

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