The Cost of Treating Spinal Cord Injuries

By Grant Law Office on July 17, 2012

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 200,000 people are currently living in the United States with a spinal cord injury (SCI). For every one million people, between 15 and 40 people will suffer a SCI this year. Tragically, many of these victims will be devastated not only by their physical disabilities, but also by the significant medical expenses they will face as a result of their catastrophic injuries.

The University of Alabama’s National Spinal Cord Injury Statistics Center reported that the average victim of a spinal cord injury in the year 2002 required 15 days of initial hospitalization in acute care. Victims then needed an average of 44 days in a rehabilitation unit. The initial hospitalization fee for just the first few days totaled to $140,000 during that year. Those costs are likely to have increased substantially now.

According to the report, the average first year expenses for paraplegics is $152,000 and the average first year of expenses for quadriplegics is $417,000. Tragically, the average lifetime costs for paraplegics who suffer their injury at the age of 25 is $428,000 and for quadriplegics, it is $1.35 million.

Many victims are never able to return to work or can only return in a limited manner. The study found that 63 percent of SCI victims were unemployed eight years after their injury. Additionally, victims may require medical devices, surgical procedures, and changes to their home to accommodate their disabilities.

When a spinal cord injury is the direct result of someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, compensation may be available for the victim’s suffering. The experienced Atlanta spinal cord injury attorneys at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., know how to determine liability for a spinal cord injury and how to pursue fair compensation for the victim’s losses. We offer free consultations on all potential spinal cord injury cases at (404) 995-3955. Please contact us to find out how we can help you and your family.