If you’ve been injured in a car accident and suffered a spinal cord injury (SCI), it could severely change the rest of your life. A spinal cord injury is an emergency that likely has to be treated through surgery. Complete healing is not always possible. Many people who suffer SCIs will have lasting disabilities, even if they get the best medical care in the world.
It’s important to keep this in mind if you are seeking financial compensation. Perhaps you know that the other driver was negligent and caused the accident leading to your injuries. You naturally need to get financial compensation to cover the costs that you’re facing. But those costs may be much more than you realize.
Estimated lifetime costs
For example, experts estimate that the lifetime costs for someone who is diagnosed with paraplegia when they are 50 years old will be over $1,500,000. If the person is 25 years old when they receive that diagnosis, then the costs could be more than $2,300,000.
Much of the financial burden comes in subsequent years. To again look at paraplegia, the first year cost is estimated at just over $500,000. But there are subsequent costs of almost $70,000 per year. This is why age makes such a difference, as a younger person is naturally going to incur far higher bills.
From your perspective as you seek compensation, though, you need to look at the full lifetime costs. Accepting a settlement for just the first-year costs could create financial hardship in the future. Be sure you are well aware of all of the legal options at your disposal.