Legal action is not something that everyone considers after suffering an injury by negligence, especially when you consider the emotional hardships they endure. However, when you understand the long-term costs associated with a serious injury, it’s easily apparent how compensation can be so important.
For an injury such as paralysis, the lifetime costs make it necessary for victims to pursue justice and compensation against a negligent party. Here are some of the costs that you can expect based on the age at which the injury was sustained and how severe the injury is.
- High Tetraplegia: These injuries occur between the C1 and C4 vertebrae and typically impact your mobility below your neck and shoulders. During the first year, you can expect to spend upwards of $1,064,000 and another $184,000 each subsequent year following the injury.
- Low Tetraplegia: These injuries occur between the C5 and C8 vertebrae. They usually have the same effects regarding mobility and can cost more than $769,000 in the first year after the injury. Each subsequent year can see costs upwards of $113,000.
- Paraplegia: Any injury that impacts your lower body but function remains in your hands and arms is called paraplegia. For individuals who suffer this type of spinal cord injury, the first year cost is over $518,000 with each subsequent year costing upwards of $68,000.
- Incomplete Motor Function: With these types of injuries, the victim may pay over $347,000 in the first year and over $42,000 each subsequent year after that.
Depending on your age, the lifetime costs can be exorbitant. For instance, a 25-year-old suffering high tetraplegia paralysis may expect to may over $4,700,000 over their lifetime. A 50-year-old with the same injury can pay over $2.5 million. The remaining lifetime costs can include the following:
- Low tetraplegia for a 25-year-old: $3.4 million
- Low tetraplegia for a 50-year-old: $2.1 million
- Paraplegia for a 25-year-old: $2.3 million
- Paraplegia for a 50-year-old: $1.5 million
- Incomplete motor function for a 25-year-old: $1.5 million
- Incomplete motor function for a 50-year-old: $1.1 million
When you need compensation to help cover the expenses associated with these serious injuries, an experienced San Francisco spinal cord injury attorney can help. Trust in our team at The Matiasic Firm to go the extra mile when you need it most.
Call our firm today at (415) 858-6692.
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