How Much Can Spinal Cord Injury Cost Kentuckians?

A spinal cord injury can change the course of a person’s life forever. Whether it is caused by a car accident, a sporting accident or some other act of negligence on the part of another, victims in Louisville who suffer spinal cord injuries will find their whole lives have been turned upside down.

Not only is recovery a lengthy process, if recovery is possible at all, but living with a spinal cord injury is prohibitively expensive.

The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center analyzed data from 2010 to 2014 to determine the average yearly costs associated with living with a spinal cord injury. These costs included healthcare expenses and living expenses, but did not include ancillary costs, for example, lost wages and productivity losses.

According to the data analyzed, a person with a high tetraplegia injury could expect to incur over $1 million in expenses the first year of the injury, and nearly $185,000 in expenses each subsequent year. A person with a low tetraplegia injury could expect to incur approximately $769,000 in expenses the first year of the injury, and around $113,000 in expenses each subsequent year. A person with a paraplegia injury could expect to incur almost $519,000 in expenses the first year of the injury and over $68,000 in expenses each subsequent year. Finally, a person with an incomplete motor function injury (any level) could expect to incur more than $347,000 in expenses the first year of the injury and approximately $42,000 in expenses each subsequent year.

When a person suffers a spinal cord injury due to the negligence of another, they should not have to bear the burden of these expenses alone.

Depending on the circumstances, it may be possible to pursue damages against the responsible party for the harms suffered. A lawsuit based on a brain or spinal cord injury can be complex, often necessitating the use of expert witnesses to provide information on the severity of the injury and estimated damages. Thus, it is important that those interested in filing a personal injury claim following a brain or spinal cord injury make sure they utilize all legal resources available to them, so they can make informed decisions.