Spinal cord injuries are often life-changing events for the victims, as they may suffer a permanent loss of mobility and function in the affected areas of the body.
The cost of ongoing treatment is largely based on the severity and type of spinal cord injury an accident victim sustained.
Below, Rizk Law discusses the main types of spinal cord injuries and the factors that affect the value of a personal injury claim for a spinal cord injury.
If you have suffered a spinal cord injury caused by another’s negligence, you may benefit from hiring one of our experienced Portland spinal cord injury lawyers.
How Severity and Type of SCI Affect Injury Claim Value
Before the value of your claim can be calculated, your attorney will need to consider not only the type of spinal cord injury you sustained, but also the severity and how it will affect you into the future. There are two main groupings for spinal cord injuries: complete and incomplete.
Complete Spinal Cord Injuries
A complete spinal cord injury occurs when the affected area is permanently damaged, causing a complete loss of both sensory and motor function below the injured area.
The most common types of complete spinal cord injuries include:
- Paraplegia – A type of spinal cord injury that causes loss of sensation and function in the lower body and limbs of the injured party. A complete spinal cord injury occurring in the T1-T12 section of the thoracic spine results in the loss of physical sensation and the ability to walk.
- Tetraplegia – Victims lose feeling and function below the site of the injury. Victims may have problems with breathing and bladder and bowel function. The higher the site of the injury, the more assistance victims are likely to need.
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries
An incomplete spinal cord injury is when the spinal cord is partially severed. Victims may still retain some function below the site of the injury. However, the extent of that functionality may be limited and is different from person to person, depending on the severity the injury.
Damages and Their Potential Value
As a spinal cord accident victim, you may be eligible to recover compensation for damages, such as:
- Present medical expenses
- Future anticipated medical care
- Surgical interventions
- At-home nursing care
- Costs for rehabilitation, physical therapy and occupational therapy
- Prescription medications
- Medical devices
- Modifications to your home
- Personal care and assistance
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Therapy
- Pain and suffering
- Impairment
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
The average cost to treat a spinal cord injury varies and depends on the type and severity of the injury as well as the age of the victim.
Here are some average medical costs for different types of spinal cord injuries, according to the medical journal Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation:
- Paraplegia – $508,904 for the first year; $1,486,835 for the lifetime costs to treat the patient if he or she is 50 years old or $2,265,548 for a 25-year-old patient
- Low Tetraplegia – $754,524 for the first year; $2,082,237 for the lifetime costs to treat the patient if he or she is 50 years old or $3,385,259 for a 25-year-old patient
- High Tetraplegia – $1,044,197 for the first year; $2,546,294 for the lifetime costs to treat the patient if he or she is 50 years old or $4,633,137 for a 25-year-old patient
Contact Rizk Law to Discuss Your Claim
Seeking compensation for a spinal cord injury is often a long and complicated process, and you may greatly benefit from hiring an experienced attorney to represent you.
For example, our attorneys know how to protect claims from insurance companies and have the resources and experience to thoroughly investigate your injury and the damages you suffered so we can pursue maximum compensation.
If you suffered a spinal cord injury caused by another’s negligence, Rizk Law is prepared to help. There are no upfront fees if we represent you, and you owe us nothing unless we first obtain compensation for you.
Call today to find out how we may be able to help: 503.245.5677
