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The catastrophic costs of spinal cord injuries

On Behalf of | Jul 16, 2021 | car accidents | 0 comments

Spinal cord injuries are a risk in any car accident and have the potential of deeply impacting anyone suffering them for the rest of their life. This comes with costs from the financial toll of surgery and rehabilitation to the mental stress that follows the long-term consequences of an injury.

Knowing what to expect from an SCI may help anyone with one anticipate their needs for the future.

Financial costs

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, the first year and subsequent year costs of SCIs vary dramatically due to the immediate medical need after sustaining the injury. Depending on the severity of the injury, first-year costs range between $375,000 and $1.1 million. Subsequent year costs range between $45,000 and $200,000. The NSCISC estimates that overall lifetime costs reach up to millions of dollars for both age groups of 25 and 50.

Other costs

Apart from the high medical costs, SCIs presents a number of challenges to the individual who suffered the injury. These may include tingling, numbness or even paralysis of a person’s limbs or whole body. This affects a person’s ability to live in and affect the world around him or her.

As SpinalCord.com reports, a high percentage of SCI survivors experience a number of mental side effects:

  • 5% experience depression
  • 37% experience anxiety
  • 4% experience post-traumatic stress disorder

The feedback loop between physical health and mental care means this is a precarious balance for an SCI survivor to deal with.

Compensation

Anyone dealing with these costs may struggle against insurance companies or negligent parties involved in the accident. Understanding what an SCI may cost from all angles might help in a damages case to secure the support needed to bear them.