An accident leads to different types of personal injuries for a victim. The injuries can range from being minor to extremely severe. For the latter, the pain and suffering, as well as the subsequent losses, are immense. However, the most frightening and potentially dangerous form of injury that can happen from a car accident is Spinal Cord Injury or SCI.

Spinal cord injuries involve a severe damage to the spinal cord, which together with the brain, makes up for the central nervous system of a person. SCI often leads to paralysis and require lifelong medical treatment and care. When SCI is caused by a car accident, which was no fault of the victim, seeking the help of a personal injury attorney is of dire necessity.

Types of SCI

Before we move on to the cost of living with a spinal cord injury, let’s understand the type of SCIs:

1. About 45% of SCI injury victims suffer from Incomplete Tetraplegia. It is an injury that typically occurs above the T1 level. The injury leads to some loss of mobility in all the four limbs.

2. Incomplete Paraplegia is the next most common type of SCI, which affects about 21% of the victims. This injury occurs below the T1 level and leads to loss of mobility in the lower limbs.

3. The third most common type is called Complete Paraplegia, which occurs for about 20% of the victims. This particular injury leads to complete or permanent disability.

4. Complete Tetraplegia is the fourth type affecting about 14% of the SCI victims. Like Complete Paraplegia, it leads to complete loss of ability for the victim.

What Determines the Cost of SCI?

The type of the injuries and their effect well points out to why a victim must hire a car accident lawyer and get compensated. The cost of treatment as well as the lifetime costs are huge and are determined by:

1. The Level of Paralysis

2. The Age of the Victim

The higher the level of paralysis, the higher is the costs. And, the younger the victim, the higher is the cost especially the lifetime cost.

What are the Estimated Costs of Living with SCI?

Here is a rough estimate of the costs incurred in treatment and aftercare for SCI:

1. High Tetraplegia can cost a victim up to $1200, 000 in the 1st year and $190,000 in the subsequent years. The lifetime costs would be around $5,000,000 for a 25-year old and $2,800,000 for a 50-year old victim.

2. Low Tetraplegia can cost up to $800,000 in the first year and $120,000 in the coming years. The lifetime costs, on the other hand, would be $4,000,000 and $2,200,000 for a 25-year old and 50-year old respectively.

3. Paraplegia ASIS ABC can cost a victim up to $550,000 in the 1st year and $70,000 in the subsequent years. The lifetime costs would be around $2,400,000 for a 25-year old and $1,600,000 for a 50-year old victim.

4. An incomplete motor function of any level can cost up to $350,000 in the first year and $45,000 in the coming years. The lifetime costs, on the other hand, would be $1,600,000 and $1,120,000 for a 25-year old and 50-year old respectively.

Victims who suffer a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence must claim compensation. It is an expert auto accident attorney who can fight for the victim and bring him the desired justice. The personal injury lawyers are aware of the finer aspects of the process and can, therefore, do their best to cover for the damages of the victim to the maximum possible extent.