Disability, Personal And Work Injury Lawyers On Your Side

Spinal cord injuries come with long-term costs 

On Behalf of | Oct 4, 2024 | Personal Injury, Social Security Disability |

A spinal cord injury can be very serious and may have life-altering ramifications. Workers who get injured need to know that there are many long-term costs associated with this type of injury, not just short-term issues like lost wages or medical bills.

For example, some estimates claim that even a lower level of spinal cord injury could cost over $1 million over the course of someone’s life. Their age plays a major role here. Someone who suffers a spinal cord injury in their 30s could have extensive lifetime costs because they need to pay for rehabilitation, in-home care and things of this nature. They may also lose significantly more money in earnings if they’re not able to work after the injury.

The location of the injury 

Along with age, another important thing to consider is the location of the SCI. The higher the injury point, the greater the ramifications for the individual who has been hurt. 

 

A lower back injury may leave someone paralyzed from the waist down, but they’ll still have full functionality in their arms. A spinal cord injury at neck level, such as in the C1 vertebrae, could leave that same person with significant mobility restrictions for the rest of their life. This is classified as a high tetraplegia, and the lifetime costs are over $2 million for a 50-year-old – and nearly $5 million for a 25-year-old.

Seeking compensation and benefits

The above is just one example of the potential costs stemming from an SCI, but every spinal cord injury is unique. It can be very helpful to understand all of the legal options you have to seek proper compensation and/or disability benefits.