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Spinal cord injuries are often devastating for California residents. Not only can they lead to significant short and long-term physical setbacks, but they can reach into the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars of medical expenses, lost wages, home modifications, and more.
Information made available by the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) shows us shocking numbers about medical costs related to spinal cord injuries. During the first year of medical care alone, a person who experiences a severe spinal cord injury with paralysis will likely incur more than $1.2 million worth of medical bills. Even an individual who experiences a spinal cord injury but retains motor functioning at any level will still incur more than $375,000 worth of medical expenses in the first year alone.
The NSCISC goes on to show that every subsequent year after the first will cost the spinal cord injury victim anywhere from $45,000 to around $200,000 in medical treatment. This type of medical treatment will include not only the likely rehospitalizations caused by other injuries or diseases that arise but also any necessary in-home long-term care that is needed.
When examining the costs of a spinal cord injury, it is crucial to look beyond the medical needs because of how these injuries affect an individual’s life and the life of their family members. Unfortunately, individuals who experience paralysis will not likely be able to work, at least not in the same capacity as before. When taking into account lost wages, we can easily see the total losses rising into hundreds of thousands of dollars or even millions of dollars, depending on the age of the victim at the time the injury occurs.
In addition to the lost wages of the spinal cord injury victim, it may be necessary for a family member to leave their job in order to become a full-time caregiver. This leads to another set of lost wages that would go toward household income.
Lost wages are not where the overall damages stop. Spinal cord injury victims will likely need to make significant modifications to their homes or any vehicles to help aid with their mobility.
Spinal cord injury victims completely affect the lives of victims and their family members. This can lead to an incredible emotional and psychological toll on all involved, particularly the spinal cord injury victim. There is no way to adequately put a dollar amount on this type of pain and suffering, at least not based on incoming medical bills and receipts. There are various accepted ways to help adequately calculate pain and suffering damages, and we encourage you to reach out to your attorney for assistance.
If you or somebody you care about has sustained a spinal cord injury caused by the negligent actions of another party, please reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. When you have a skilled spinal cord injury lawyer in San Bernardino by your side, you will have an advocate ready to stand up to insurance carriers and other parties while working to recover fair compensation on your behalf.