Spinal cord injuries happen in motor vehicle accidents but may also occur during surgery or even as a birth injury. These types of injuries are difficult to cure outside of additional surgery and long months of recovery. Anyone left with a permanent SCI has a lifetime of challenges including loss of sensation, tingling and even paralysis.
Understanding the severity of SCIs and how that severity affects average yearly costs may help prepare those victims looking to secure compensation for their pain.
SCIs as a matter of severity
As Disabled World details, a main component of SCIs is whether it is either incomplete or complete. An
incomplete SCI involves damage to the spinal cord that does not fully sever its connection with the vertebrae below the injury. A complete spinal cord injury often results in total loss of sensation and movement to anywhere below the site.
A person may experience widespread loss, depending on how high up the injury is on the spinal cord. Injury to the thoracic vertebrae affects the trunk and legs while cervical vertebrae may affect the entire body from the neck down.
SCIs as a matter of cost
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, the average costs in the first year are the highest due to hospital stays and procedures and vary greatly depending on the severity. Estimates place these first-year costs between $375,196 and $1.14 million.
Handling these costs is another situation entirely and those suffering from SCI due to negligence have a lot to sort through. When dealing with the physical, financial and emotional toll of an SCI, it may be useful to learn more about SCIs and how to pursue fair compensation.
