A particularly severe car accident may result in a spinal cord injury. Very few people suffering from an SCI that impacts their motor functions experience a 100% recovery, meaning you may need healthcare support for the rest of your life.
The overall lifetime costs of an SCI depend on its severity and your age at the time of the accident.
SCI severity
The general rule of thumb about your spine is that any damage to it may affect your motor functions and the higher up your injury, the more widespread that impact may be. Low-severity injuries or damage to the lumbar spine may only result in partial motor function loss or paraplegia. Damage to the cervical spine risks serious paralysis to most of your body.
Lifetime costs by age
The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center breaks down estimated lifetime costs based on when you received the injury. 25-year-olds suffering an SCI may not have as many ongoing or comorbidities as a 50-year-old and typically have a longer life expectancy. Motor function loss at any level for a 25-year-old comes with an estimated lifetime cost of around $1.7 million. A 50-year-old can reasonably expect an estimated $1.2 million in lifetime costs. The more serious an SCI, the more costly it becomes over the years.
Compensation for the years to come
From surgery to rehabilitation to your everyday lifestyle while dealing with disability, there may be options available to help you overcome these costs. It is important to research your own unique case and learn more information when seeking damages for your SCI injury.
