Spinal cord injuries are among the most devastating medical challenges people may ever face. The medical consequences of a spinal cord injury include a loss of physical sensation and motor control.
People focusing on their physical healing and emotional needs after sustaining a spinal cord injury may expect to receive reasonable and appropriate compensation given their losses. They may have to personally pursue financial compensation by filing insurance claims or pursuing personal injury litigation.
Those seeking financial compensation for spinal cord injuries may need help accurately estimating their likely long-term financial losses. Spinal cord injuries can generate a host of different financial complications, including the three types of losses explained below.
1. Significant medical expenses
The treatment necessary to stabilize a spinal cord injury is quite costly. Many people generate six or seven figures worth of medical expenses in the first year after a spinal cord injury. They may continue to accrue significant additional medical costs for the rest of their lives. Surgery, physical therapy and various forms of rehabilitative care all contribute to the long-term medical expenses of a spinal cord injury.
2. Accommodation expenses
Spinal cord injuries affect physical functions and therefore how people navigate daily life. Most people with spinal cord injuries require adjustments to their homes. They may have to spend tens of thousands of dollars adding wheelchair ramps, renovating bathrooms and moving their living quarters to an accessible location within a home. The cost of acquiring accessible transportation can also be significant. Some people acquire vehicles that are wheelchair accessible. Others retrofit existing vehicles to accommodate wheelchairs and allow for hands-only operation.
3. Reduced income
People recovering from spinal cord injuries may spend weeks away from their jobs. Even after they return, the wages that they earn may be lower than they were before the injury. People may need to move to less challenging positions after spinal cord injuries. Other times, they may not be able to fully commit themselves to career development and may find that they never truly optimize their earning potential. In either case, income can decline noticeably because of a spinal cord injury.
A personal injury lawsuit could be necessary if people have expenses caused by permanent medical conditions resulting from another’s negligence or wrongdoing. Accounting for the various significant expenses and losses generated by a spinal cord injury can help people limit the long-term economic hardship caused by their medical challenges.