Spinal cord injuries can be devastating to California victims because their reach can be so vast. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves encased in the spinal column, and the spinal cord connects the brain to practically every other part of the body through a network of nerves and tissue. When the spinal cord is damaged or severed, it can prevent messages from the brain from reach the appendages and lower parts of the body.
While there are some available treatments for victims of spinal cord injuries, many victims must learn to live with the disabilities imposed on them by their injuries. Spinal cord injuries can result in paralysis of different degrees. Living with paralysis and other related conditions can be costly and can weigh heavily on victims.
Costs of treating spinal cord injuries
According to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, the cost of living with a spinal cord injury will vary depending on the type and severity of the injury suffered by a victim. However the Foundation found that a relatively young victim of 25-years-of-age who suffered a high spinal cord injury resulting tetraplegia (paralysis of the arms and legs) may suffer lifetime costs in excess of $4 million.
A victim who suffers paraplegia (paralysis of the legs) at the same age may endure costs in excess of $2 million over the course of their life. As a victim ages at the time of their injury, their expected costs may decrease due to life expectancy.
Crippling injuries, crippling costs
As readers can see, spinal cord injuries can be excessively expensive to live with for victims. That is why it is important that those suffering from spinal cord harm know and understand their rights. When the fault of others is to blame for a spinal cord injury accident, a victim may have options to pursue their losses as damages in personal injury litigation.