Unfortunately, the leading cause of spinal cord injury in California residents is motor vehicle accidents. The force of automobile collisions can damage the spinal cord so severely that many victims never walk again.
If you have suffered spinal cord damage in a recent motor vehicle accident, you can expect to incur substantial medical expenses. In many cases, these expenses will last a lifetime. Before you discount the benefits of guidance with your accident claim, it is wise to learn more.
What are the lifetime costs of treatment?
The good news is that hospital stays because of a spinal cord injury have decreased in recent years. During the 1970s, a spinal cord patient’s hospital visit lasted about 24 days. In recent years, the typical length of hospitalization is only about 11 days. Most patients will need to stay in the hospital for treatment once per year or more.
Hospital visits combined with ongoing outpatient treatment make the cost of living with a spinal cord injury outrageously expensive. The estimated lifetime costs of the different types of spinal cord injuries are as follows.
- High tetraplegia or damage high on the spinal cord and affecting all four limbs can cost someone in their 20s more than $5 million.
- Low tetraplegia (damage to the lower spinal cord) that affects all four limbs can cost a young person more than $3 million.
- Paraplegia or paralysis of the lower body can cost someone in their 20s more than $2 million.
- Spinal cord damage affecting motor functions at all levels can cost young adults more than $1.5 million.
Seeking a legal solution for your motor vehicle accident can ensure your ability to pay for the medical care you will need after a spinal cord injury. Your first step is exploring the legal and financial remedies at your disposal.