If you get into a car accident and suffer a spinal cord injury (SCI), it can change the course of your life. An SCI is very serious, and full healing is not always possible. Due to the permanent nature of the injury, it is important to think about some of the projected costs.
Every case is unique, but there are some estimates that have been made by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.
The type of SCI can have a huge impact
First and foremost, the type of spinal cord injury you suffer makes a major difference. High tetraplegia between the C1 and C4 vertebrae, for instance, can incur over $1 million in initial costs and over $184,000 in annual costs. Low tetraplegia, on the other hand, may lead to $769,000 in initial costs and around $113,000 in annual costs.
This gives you an idea of the severity of these injuries and the financial challenges you may be facing when looking at medical bills, rehabilitation and much more. But it is important to work closely with your medical team to determine exactly what is necessary in your case.
Your age at the time of injury also affects your needs
The next thing to consider is your age when you suffer the injury. You will need care for longer if you are younger, which can increase the costs.
To stick with the same example, high tetraplegia at 50 years old could lead to roughly $2.5 million in lifetime costs. The same injury at 25 years old could lead to more than $4.7 million in lifetime costs. Low tetraplegia at 50 years old could lead to $2.1 million in lifetime costs. This increases to $3.4 million if you are 25 years old.
But again, the key is to work closely with your medical team, as every SCI is unique. If you are seeking financial compensation from the driver who initially caused the car accident, it can also help to work with an experienced personal injury attorney.