A spinal cord injury is going to have a major financial impact on your life. The exact cost certainly differs from patient to patient, depending on the type of injury, the medical care they need and many other factors.
However, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation has produced some estimates to help people know what type of costs they may face for a variety of common SCIs. A high tetraplegia could cost over $1 million in the first year, for example, while a low tetraplegia may cost over $769,000 in the first year. Each of these then comes with subsequent yearly costs, estimated at over $184,000 for a high tetraplegia and over $113,000 for a low tetraplegia.
25 versus 50 years old
The reason that age plays such a major role is that it helps to determine how long a person will be living with a potential disability and what type of care they need. It also affects how high the cost could be when considering lost wages or reduced earning capacity.
For instance, the foundation estimates that a 50-year-old who suffers a high tetraplegia will face lifetime costs of over $2,596,000. This is clearly a very high expense, but if someone suffered the exact same injury at 25 years old, then the estimated lifetime cost jumps to over $4,724,000.
If you have suffered these types of injuries due to someone else’s negligence, such as in a motor vehicle accident, it is critical that you know exactly what legal steps to take to seek the financial compensation you need and deserve at this time.