How much will a spinal cord injury cost, really?

When you get into a crash, one of the risks is that your spinal cord could be injured. If it is, you may have a complete or incomplete injury. A complete injury is one that severs the cord, and it’s less likely than an incomplete injury. With an incomplete injury, you may retain some movement or feeling, but it’s not a guarantee.

The problem with a spinal cord injury is that it is difficult to recover from and may cause lasting injuries that are permanent despite your best efforts. That means that you have hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills as well as a future where you’ll see medical providers regularly. Combined with necessary changes to your home and losses from not being able to work, you can see how a spinal injury could affect you significantly.

How much does an average spinal cord injury cost?

No two injuries are the same, so it’s difficult to say how much your injury will cost. However, within the first year, most patients pay up to $1,129,302 to cover their medical care. Each subsequent year, the cost of a spinal cord injury could be as much as $196,107, the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center reports.

Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars, won’t bring back your ability to walk or use your body like you once did, but it may be what you have to ask for if you file a claim against a driver who hit you. You can’t ignore the costs thinking that you’ll be able to cover them with insurance alone, because it’s not just your medical care that you have to worry about.

You will have lost wages, rehabilitative therapy, orthotics, medications and the potential for secondary complications. Some people have to have multiple surgeries, while others may need to hire a caregiver for the remainder of their lives.

Your attorney will talk to you about your specific case and injury level, so you can get a good idea of how much money you’ll need to cover your losses. This is a tragic injury that has a lasting impact, so you should fight to receive fair compensation.