Injuries to the spinal cord are catastrophic. A single mishap, tumble, or violent act has the power to alter your entire life permanently.
Quite obviously, compensation for injuries to the spinal cord is often substantial due to chronic impairment and a decline in quality of life. Nevertheless, several factors, including the degree of spinal column damage and the events leading up to the injury, affect how much you might be able to recover when you file a spinal cord injury claim.
The World Health Organization estimates that every year, between 250,000 and 500,000 people suffer from spinal cord injuries. Even for individuals who do initially recover from a spinal cord injury (SCI), there is a reduction in their life expectancy.
In this article, we will learn why spinal cord injuries attract such high settlements.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
A network of nerves called the spinal cord runs through the center of your back. Its function is to facilitate brain-to-body communication.
An injury to the spinal cord occurs when the backbone is damaged and the brain-body communication system is disrupted.
There are three main types of injuries:
- Complete spinal cord injury: When your spinal cord sustains an injury so severe that it is unable to transmit impulses below the site of injury, you have a complete injury. The result is usually complete paralysis below the area of the injury.
- Incomplete spinal cord injury: This is when the spinal cord sustains considerable damage yet remains functional below the injury site. An incomplete spinal cord injury causes restricted movement and feeling.
- Spinal concussion: A spinal concussion is a less severe type of spine injury. It has symptoms that are strikingly similar to those of an incomplete or complete spinal cord injury. Usually, they go away in 24 to 72 hours without causing long-term issues.
Expenses Associated with Spinal Cord Injuries
The most expensive year following a spinal cord injury is usually the first year since a lot of testing is needed to determine the extent of the trauma.
Treatment begins immediately to preserve the residual function or stop additional harm. You will have
- Pin-prick testing
- CT scans
- MRIs
- X-rays
Rehabilitation starts as soon as you’re steady. You will consult various medical professionals to learn how to manage your restrictions. It could be necessary to adjust your home and car to fit your “new normal.”
Depending on the location and extent of the spinal cord damage, first-year costs could vary from over $300,000 to over $1 million. The expenses for the following years can range from more than $40,000 to around $185,000.
In addition to these medical costs, people with spinal cord injuries probably cannot work and need continuous care, either at home or in a facility. This will have an even more significant effect on your family’s financial situation if you are the primary provider. Every aspect of your life will be affected by spinal cord damage.
How is the Value of Spinal Cord Injuries Evaluated?
Since numerous factors are taken into account when calculating damages, settlement amounts for spinal cord injuries might vary considerably. Every situation is different.
Your age, for instance, may be significant. A young person who was in good health prior to the accident is entitled to higher compensation than an older person who had severe health issues in the past. The compensation value will also depend on the specifics of the event, the extent of your injuries, and if you shared some of the blame.
Conclusion
Due to the life-altering nature of spinal cord injuries, the value of claims for spinal cord injuries is typically far higher than claims for other types of injuries. Your attorney may have an impact on the value of your spinal cord injury. Working with an accomplished attorney who can determine the damages in your claim and get fair compensation is crucial.
