A Huntsville, Alabama business owner has suffered a severe spinal cord injury that has left him paralyzed after a car accident. After the car accident, the victim realized that he could not move and is now undergoing intense rehabilitation. Over 40 people from several states have gathered together to help him complete a project during his time of need. Unfortunately, his prognosis is serious, and while he could make some improvements, it appears that he will likely remain paralyzed after the car accident.
Estimating the Value of Your Spinal Cord Injury Case
This case demonstrates how devastating spinal cord injuries are and how they can impose severe consequences on a person’s mobility, quality of life, and checkbook. If you were going to love one who has experienced a spinal cord injury after a car accident or another type of accident, you might be wondering how much your case is worth. It is difficult to predict the value of your case accurately, and your case’s value will depend on the specifics of your injury, whether you require multiple surgeries, rehabilitative treatment, mobility equipment, and therapy.
What is the Average Spinal Cord Injury Settlement?
Most spinal cord injuries are severe and require a lifetime of treatment and rehabilitation. It is not uncommon for spinal cord settlements to be high, often over $1 million. A large percentage of your settlement or verdict will cover your current and future medical expenses. According to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, the average yearly cost of a spinal cord injury depends on the type of the spinal cord injury, the patient’s neurological impairment, education, and pre-injury employment history.
When a patient is diagnosed with High Tetraplegia (C1-C4) ASIS ABC, the average medical cost for the first year after the injury is $1,064,716. Each subsequent year, people can expect to pay approximately $184,891.The average yearly cost for the first year after becoming diagnosed with paraplegia is $518,904 and $68,739 per year for subsequent years.
The estimated lifetime cost of a 25-year-old who suffers a High Tetraplegia (C1-C4) ASIS ABC spinal cord injury is $4,724,181. For a 50-year-old who suffers the same spinal cord injury, the lifetime cost will be over $2.5 million. A 25-year old who experiences paraplegia from a spinal cord injury will have over $2.3 million in lifetime costs. A 50-year-old with the same type of injury will have a lifetime cost of over $1.5 million.
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Damages Available for Spinal Cord Injury Victims
These figures give you an idea of the types of medical expenses you will have due to your spinal cord injury. If you are a 25-year-old who suffered a serious spinal cord injury, your lifetime cost will be nearly $5 million. In addition to your medical expenses, you will also need to recover compensation for your lost wages and loss of future earning capacity.
If you need durable medical equipment, such as a chair lift for your staircase, or to make your home wheelchair friendly, you can include those expenses, as well. Additionally, you will be able to recover compensation for the pain and suffering you have endured due to your injury. In Alabama, successful plaintiffs can recover the following damages:
- Permanent disability
- Loss of quality of life
- Past and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitative therapy
- Home accommodations and mobility equipment
- Lost wages and loss of future earnings
- Chronic pain
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
How to Calculate Pain and Suffering Damages After a Spinal Cord Injury
A significant portion of spinal cord injury settlements come from the emotional or non-financial damages the victim has endured. It is challenging to quantify a specific value to the total amount of pain and suffering you have suffered, but you feel the loss all the same. If you can no longer walk and engage in the activities you love due to your spinal cord injury, you should receive significant compensation for your injuries.
When we calculate the amount of pain and suffering you should obtain, we consider your chronic pain, emotional anguish, and a loss of your quality of life. In most cases, the more severe injury, the more economic damages you will be entitled to receive. For example, if you lose your ability to care for yourself or walk, you will be entitled to more emotional damages.
Contact an Alabama Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today
Have you received a spinal cord injury caused by another person or company’s negligence? If so, you may be entitled to compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent party. We recommend speaking to one of the experienced personal injury lawyers at Heninger Garrison Davis as soon as possible. Contact us to schedule your free initial consultation.
