Spinal cord injuries can be devastating for victims. Most people understand that a spinal cord injury will affect not only a person’s ability to live their daily lives, but it can be incredibly costly. However, determining the real costs of a spinal cord injury can be complicated. Here, Hawaii catastrophic injury attorneys at Kurzban, Kurzban, Tetzeli, and Pratt P.A. want to discuss the data surrounding medical costs related to spinal cord injuries as well as other “hidden costs” associated with these incidents.
The Spinal Cord Injury Statistics
According to data available from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) we can see that there are anywhere from 249,000 to 363,000 people living in the United States with a spinal cord injury. The data shows that there are around 18,000 new spinal cord injury cases each year across the country. The NSCISC says that the main causes of spinal cord injuries include the following:
- Vehicle accidents (39.3%)
- Falls (31.8%)
- Violence (13.5%)
- Sports and recreation incidents (8.0%)
- Medical or surgical mistakes (4.3%)
- Other (3.1%)
The Costs Of A Spinal Cord Injury
When examining the true costs of a spinal cord injury, we should start with the first year of medical care. The first year after a spinal cord injury will consist of the emergency medical expenses as well as significant rehabilitation and physical therapy costs. Depending on the severity of the injury (what level of paralysis a person sustains), the first-year cost of medical care can range from $368,000 to more than $1.1 million.
For every subsequent year after “year one,” spinal cord injury victims will sustain medical costs ranging from $44,000 to nearly $200,000, again depending on the severity of the injury. In many cases, lifetime medical costs deal with not only the spinal cord injury itself, but also medical care arising due to complications caused by the injury (weakened immune systems, obesity, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular disease, and more).
However, spinal cord injury victims and their families will also incur significant “hidden costs” related to the injury. This can include the following:
- The cost of any home or vehicle modifications to aid a victim’s mobility
- The cost of travel to and from spinal cord injury specialists
- Lost income if a victim can no longer work
- Lost income of a familial caregiver who can no longer work
Aside from these costs, it should also be noted that victims and their family members will likely endure significant emotional and psychological trauma as a result of the injury and its effects on their lives.
Our Team Is Ready To Help You Today
If you or somebody you love has sustained a spinal cord injury caused by the careless or negligent actions of another person, you may be entitled to significant compensation. At Kurzban, Kurzban, Tetzeli, and Pratt P.A., we pledge to conduct a full investigation into your case so we can secure any compensation you may be entitled to. These injuries can affect every aspect of a person’s life and the lives of their family members.
When you need a Hawaii spinal cord injury attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 808-736-5035.