Founder and Managing Partner
What costs are associated with a spinal cord injury?
Spinal cord injuries are some of the most serious injuries you could suffer in an accident. The human spine is comprised of a vertebral column with 33 vertebrae, a host of ligaments, and the spinal cord. If the spinal cord is damaged, accident victims may suffer some degree of paralysis, numbness, tingling, and more. The costs of a spinal cord injury are tremendous and can prove simply unaffordable for many accident victims.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are classified as complete or incomplete. With an incomplete injury, the spinal cord has not been severed and the accident victim will retain some degree of motor or sensory function below the injury site. In a complete injury, the sufferer will lose all sensory and motor control below the injury location. The spinal cord is completely unable to communicate with the brain at or below the injury line.
Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries have many potential causes. Car accidents are a top cause of spinal cord injuries. These accidents involve considerable speeds and force, which leaves the spinal cord vulnerable to traumatic injury. Falls are another common cause of spinal cord injuries. Workplace falls from heights may leave employees paralyzed.
The Costs of a Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injuries can come with considerable financial costs. The expenses associated with a spinal cord injury include:
- Emergency room bills
- Hospitalization costs
- Surgery
- Rehabilitation
- Medical equipment, including wheelchairs
- Caregiver expenses
- Loss of ability to work or return to your job
- Loss of work-related benefits, like retirement benefits
A severe spinal cord injury will often cost the sufferer hundreds of thousands of dollars for basic care each year. Added up over a lifetime, the costs of such an injury are astronomical. In addition to financial costs, spinal cord injuries may come at considerable mental and emotional costs, including anxiety, depression, feelings of helplessness, and more.
Accident sufferers should not be forced to bear the costs of a spinal cord injury alone. If you have sustained a spinal cord injury due to the negligence of another, contact our spinal cord injury attorneys at J&Y. Our Los Angeles firm offers experienced and dedicated representation to clients injured in a wide array of accidents. Contact us today at 1 (888) 806-6722 to schedule your free consultation.