A spinal cord injury can be devastating, both physically and emotionally. But few people ever talk about the financial devastation that can result from such an injury. If you have a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence, you must ensure that the compensation you’re seeking is enough to pay for the best possible treatment throughout your recovery. But, you’ll also need compensation to cover your loss of income, pain and suffering and a lifetime of medical expenses associated with your injury. Do not make the mistake of trusting an insurance adjuster to figure out how much you should be compensated. You need a top-notch personal injury attorney who has the experience and qualifications to determine how much money you will need, someone highly motivated, working on your behalf to see that you get what you need.
On average, the annual living and healthcare expenses plus the approximate lifetime costs directly associated with a spinal cord injury depend on severity of the injury, which means there is a great deal of variation as to the actual costs. The following figures haven’t taken into consideration the indirect costs, such as lost wages, benefits and productivity, which in 2014 dollars averaged $71,961 a year. Instead, the variations below are based for the most part on level of education, the severity of the injury, and employment history prior to the injury. The Average Yearly Expenses are in 2014 dollars.
Approximate Lifetime Costs by Age at Time of Injury (discounted at 2%):
Average Yearly Costs and Expenses | Approximate Lifetime Costs by Age at Time of Injury (discounted at 2%) | |||
Severity of the Injury | First Year | Each Subsequent Year | 25 years of age | 90 years of age |
High Tetraplegia (C1–C4) AIS ABC | $1,064,716 | $184,891 | $4,724,181 | $2,596,329 |
Low Tetraplegia (C5–C8) AIS ABC | $769,351 | $113,423 | $3,451,781 | $2,123,154 |
Paraplegia AIS ABC | $518,904 | $68,739 | $2,310,104 | $1,516,052 |
Motor Functional at Any Level AIS D | $347,484 | $42,206 | $1,578,274 | $1,113,990 |
The law firm of O’Connor, Runckel & O’Malley will consult with medical experts and vocational rehabilitation professionals to determine the extent of your spinal cord injury and the long-term prognosis. We also bring in very astute financial planners to help us determine the all the short- and long-term financial ramifications. Through over a decade of specializing in personal injury law we’ve demonstrated the skills necessary to ensure that you and your family will receive the kind of financial compensation you need to move forward with your lives. We invite you to contact us to schedule a free consultation to discuss your situation.
(Source: National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center)
Published on behalf of O’Connor, Runckel & O’Malley LLP
