You can easily hurt your spine in a motor vehicle collision, especially if you are not in a motor vehicle or traveling at very high speeds at the time of the collision. Spinal cord injuries interrupt the flow of information between your brain and the rest of your body.
In complete spinal cord injury scenarios, an individual will permanently lose both motor function and physical sensation below the site of the injury. Those with incomplete injuries may have a better chance at recovery, but they will likely also experience lasting limitations on both functionality and sensation.
As you can probably already guess, spinal cord injuries tend to be very expensive. What are the three main contributing factors to injury costs?
Medical expenses
Individuals with spinal cord injuries typically require emergency transportation to medical facilities, which can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars depending on the location of the crash. They may also be in the hospital for weeks, followed by even longer in a rehabilitation facility.
Some cases may also require surgery and ongoing physical therapy to help someone maintain muscle tone below the side of the injury. Spinal cord injuries typically carry six or seven-figure price tags over the course of someone’s life solely in terms of the medical care required.
Accessibility costs
It can cost anywhere from a few thousand dollars to $30,000 or more for you to make the home where you live accessible if you require a wheelchair. It may also cost tens of thousands of dollars to purchase a wheelchair-accessible vehicle or modify an existing vehicle for leg-free operation or wheelchair lifts.
Lost wages and household contributions
Individuals with spinal cord injuries may need to retire early because they can no longer work. Even if they can seek employment in a less-demanding profession, they will likely need to accept a significant reduction in their pay when they move to a new job.
Additionally, those with spinal cord injuries may no longer be able to provide the same household services they did before. They may need to bring in professional support to take care of their children, wash their dishes or prepare their meals.
All of these costs combined will likely far exceed the amount of insurance available after a motor vehicle collision. Individuals struggling with the consequences of a spinal cord injury may need to go to civil courts to pursue the full value of their injuries. Quantifying the impact of a spinal cord injury can help inspire you to pursue financial justice for yourself and your family.