Spinal cord injuries are among the most catastrophic injuries that Americans can suffer. In many cases, healing is very limited and complete recovery is impossible. A person with a spinal cord injury may suffer symptoms for the rest of their life, which could include severely limited mobility. They may have a lack of motor function below the injury site, which can affect their ability to move their arms and legs.
While these injuries are very expensive at any age, studies show that younger individuals face significantly higher costs. This may be due to the fact that they need extensive medical care and assistance for the rest of their lives, which could include physical rehabilitation, medication, in-home care or even future surgeries. Additionally, someone with an SCI may not be able to work, so a young person could essentially lose most of the earnings they expected from their entire career.
How significant is the difference?
It does depend on the type of injury that the person suffers, but the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation has put out estimates to demonstrate just how much age impacts overall lifetime costs.
For instance, if a 50-year-old suffers from low tetraplegia, between the C5 and the C6 vertebrae, their estimated lifetime costs are just over $2,100,000. For a 25-year-old who suffers from the same injury, however, the estimated lifetime costs increase to $3.4 million. If that 25-year-old had high tetraplegia, between the C1 and the C4 vertebrae, then the costs would jump to $4.7 million.
This helps to illustrate the severe cost of a spinal cord injury and why it is critical for those who have suffered such injuries to know exactly what legal options they have.