How Much Does Paralysis Cost?

Spine injuries can be serious and the injured party may still be able to walk. However, in the most severe circumstances involving a spine injury, paralysis is a real possibility and the party who suffers the injury can find themselves losing complete functions of some or all extremities.

It’s an unfortunate situation, but paralysis is something that happens far too often, many of the potential causes being some form of negligence. It makes legal action necessary as the cost of living with paralysis can reach millions of dollars based on multiple factors, including the type of paralysis and the age of the victim.

Breaking Down the Numbers

Yearly costs:

• A high tetraplegia injury (occurring between the C1 and C4 vertebrae) can cost over $1 million in the first year following the injury. Each subsequent year can cost upwards of $180,000.
• A low tetraplegia injury (occurring between the C5 and C8 vertebrae) can cost more than $769,000 in the first year following the injury. In the years following the injury, you may expect to pay over $110,000 each year.
• Suffering from paraplegia can cost the injured party over $515,000 in the first year of the injury. Every year following the first year can cost over $68,000 for treatment, care, and equipment.
• Finally, suffering from incomplete motor function at any level can cost over $345,000 in year one, and the years following the injury can be over $42,000 each year.

Lifetime costs: The total costs of paralysis over the individual’s lifetime is dependent on the age of the injured individual, as well as the severity of the injury suffered.

• If a high tetraplegia victim suffers the injury at age 25, the lifetime costs can exceed $4.7 million. If the victim suffers the injury at age 50, the total costs can still exceed $2.5 million for treatment and care.
• If a low tetraplegia victim suffers the injury when they are 25 years old, they can expect to pay more than $3.4 million over their lifetime. A victim at the age of 50 years old may pay over $2.1 million in the lifetime costs.
• Paraplegia is less serious, yet the lifetime costs for someone who suffers the injury at 25 can still pay over $2.3 million over their lifetime while a 50-year-old who suffers this type of injury may pay over $1.5 million.
• Finally, incomplete motor function can incur costs upwards of $1.5 million for a 25-year-old victim, and over $1.1 million for a 50-year-old victim.

Our Philadelphia spine injury attorneys at The Beasley Firm are here to help you pursue the compensation you need to cover the expenses associated with a catastrophic injury.

Call us today.