After a motor vehicle accident, you may face catastrophic injuries. Many of these have chances of a full recovery after surgery and rehabilitation, but sometimes that is not the case.
If you suffer a spinal cord injury, you may have a lifetime of costs to pay due to the fallout. But not all of these costs are financial.
The financial costs of an SCI
As the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center reports, your SCI costs may range substantially based on severity. Whether it is a complete or incomplete SCI has a lot to do with the long-term costs, but the NSCISC breaks down the average yearly costs into four broad categories:
- Motor functional at any level
- Paraplegia
- Low tetraplegia
- High tetraplegia
Paraplegia refers to the paralysis of your lower half and tetraplegia refers to paralysis throughout your body. Initial year costs, thanks to surgery and physical therapy, range anywhere from $375,000 to over $1 million. But estimated lifetime costs average between $1.2 million and $5.1 million depending on your age when you suffer the SCI.
Physical costs of an SCI
Paralysis and motor function loss may deeply impact your lifestyle. But even numbness or tingling has an effect on your future. It may impact your ability to work, get around or stay active.
Mental and emotional costs of an SCI
This drastic change to your life combined with the immense costs of recovery may put pressure on your mental and emotional states. This may manifest as depression, anxiety or other disorders.
No one expects these costs, but if your accident was the result of negligence or your insurance is difficult about your compensation, there are options for recovering from them.