We want to bring you the inspirational story of Tiphany Adams, a woman who was in a horrible accident when she was just a teenager.
When Adams was just 17-years-old, she and a friend were riding back home from a wakeboarding event when a drunk driver ran into their vehicle. All four people, including Adams, were declared dead at the scene.
Except, Adams was not dead. When it was discovered she was alive, she was flown to the hospital and underwent 30-hours of surgery and was in a coma for three weeks. When she woke up, she learned she was paralyzed from the waist down and that she was the only survivor of the accident.
Adams is not 35-years-old and has fought to make a difference if other people’s lives. She is a YouTube star and makes fitness videos that inspire so many people, both those who are also paralyzed and those who are not. She also talks about the daily struggles she goes through.
At Hiden, Rott & Oertle, LLP, we know that accidents like this can change people’s lives forever. If you need a San Diego spinal cord injury attorney, our team will work with you to ensure you get the compensation you need.
What Can Happen
The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center breaks down the causes of these injuries:
- Vehicle accidents (38 percent)
- Falls (30.5 percent)
- Violence (13.5 percent)
- Sports and recreation accidents (9 percent)
- Surgical errors (5 percent)
There are approximately 17,000 new spinal cord injuries a year and over 200,000 people in the US currently live with a spinal cord injury.
The Costs
Here are some of the numbers:
- First-year costs for spinal cord injuries can range from $347,000 to over $1 million.
- For each year of care after the first year, costs range from $42,000 to $185,000.
- About 30 percent of people with spinal cord injuries are re-hospitalized one or more times during a given year following their injuries.
Hidden Costs
Unfortunately, the cost of these injuries goes beyond medical expenses. A person’s home and vehicle must usually be upgraded to accommodate necessary equipment and to improve mobility. These costs can quickly rise over $100,000.
We also need to consider the lost income of the person injured and how that will affect their family. Also, a family member often must leave their job to become a full-time caregiver for the victim.
Other costs include psychological treatment needed for spinal cord injury victims to help them deal with lifestyle changes. These injuries often cause severe depression, anxiety, and even PTSD.
What You Can Do
If you or a loved one have suffered from a spinal cord injury that has caused paralysis and the incident was caused by someone else’s negligence, seek legal assistance now. At Hiden, Rott & Oertle, LLP, our team will get to work for you, ensuring that you are treated fairly and that you receive the compensation you need for all of your accident-related expenses. This can include:
- Medical costs (current and long-term)
- Lost income
- Hidden costs like home and vehicle accommodations
- Pain and suffering damages
- Punitive damages
If you need a San Diego spinal cord injury attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling our office.