The Costs and Damages of Spinal Cord Injury Cases

Spinal cord injury (SCI) cases are devastating not only because of its debilitating effect on the victim’s physical and emotional well-being but also because of huge economic burden most families would have to face in the care and treatment of such injuries.

Every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 11,000 Americans sustain an SCI. It is estimated that there are 200,000 Americans who live with a disability because of a spinal cord injury and the costs are staggering. Spinal cord injuries reportedly cost society $9.7 billion each year and according to the University of Alabama National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, the lifetime cost or damages of SCI to a 25-year-old is between $704,344 and $3.1 million.

Aside from the costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation, suffering a spinal cord injury can result to loss of wages on the part of the victim, especially if it resulted to permanent disability or paralysis.

According to the Mayo Clinic, here are the most common causes of spinal cord injury:

• Motor vehicle crashes. Car accidents are the leading cause of SCI and these accounts for more than 40 percent of new spinal cord injuries each year.

• Acts of violence. 15 percent of spinal cord injuries are caused by violent encounters such as gunshot and knife wounds.

• Fall accidents. Most spinal cord injuries after the age 65 is caused by a fall. Fall accidents count for one-quarter of all spinal cord injuries.

• Sports injuries. Athletic or recreational activities that may involve impact or physical contact result to about 8 percent of spinal cord injuries.

• Alcohol Use. Alcohol is related to about 1 out of every 4 spinal cord injuries.

• Disease. Diseases such as cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis and inflammation of the spinal cord also cause spinal cord injuries.

When any of the above-mentioned causes of spinal cord injuries were a result of the negligence of another party, the victim or his family may rightfully file for damages in such cases. Damages in spinal cord injury cases may include the following:

• Compensation for medical expenses incurred which include health care, hospital bills, ambulance bills, and charges for medical or surgical care

• Future medical expenses may include the cost for rehabilitation, equipment such as wheelchairs, transportation and attendant care

• Lost wages

• Loss of earning capacity

• Pain and suffering which include payment for disability or and loss of life’s pleasures

If you or a loved one were involved in an accident which resulted to spinal cord injury and this was caused through the fault of negligence of another, you may file a personal injury lawsuit against the liable party and recover a measure of the expenses you lost and stand to lose because of the injury.


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