Active, Attentive & Effective Representation

The Hidden Costs Of Being A Paraplegic

On Behalf of | Oct 6, 2018 | Spinal Cord Injury |

Spinal-Cord-Injury-Attorney-San-Diego-1.jpg

Area teen Isaac Coulapides was paralyzed in a car crash last year. He is doing well now and has remained positive. We bring you his story because it highlights many of the changes that happen in people’s lives once they become paraplegics.

Everyone knows that major accidents lead to long and extensive medical procedures, but they often think nothing of the aftermath, the times when people get to go home from the hospital.

For Coulapides, his home was not set up for him to get around easily inside. He is bound to a wheelchair, but the home was small. He needed an accessible bathroom, but he did not have one.

The project to get his home ready for him was completed by a wonderful charity, but charities have limited means. They cannot help everyone.

What happens if you or a loved one become paraplegic and are unable to afford the costs associated with the accident?

What if the accident was due to someone else’s negligence?

The New Reality

People are aware that spinal cord injuries cost money. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistics Center, there are around 17,000 new spinal cord injuries each year in the US.

They happen in a number of ways, in vehicle accidents, falls, and violence leading the way with causes, followed by sports incidents, medical mistakes, and other causes.

In the first year alone, medical treatment for paraplegics can cost around $520,000 with each following year seeing around $70,000 in medical costs.

But what about those hidden costs we discussed in the story above?

Making home and vehicle accommodations can cost a significant amount of money. The teenager we mentioned above may be able to work, but will he ever reach his full earning potential?

What are the emotional and psychological costs associated with an injury like this?

Perhaps most disheartening of all is the fact that 30 percent of all spinal cord injury victims are re-hospitalized one or more times during any given year following the injury and life expectancy is lowered. For the boy we mentioned above, his life expectancy is around 45.1 years of age, significantly less than the population’s average.

If someone else is responsible for an injury of this severity, they should be held accountable and bear the costs.

What To Do

If you or someone you know has been paralyzed because of someone else’s negligence, we know you have so much to deal with. If you need an exceptional San Diego spinal cord injury attorney, contact Hiden, Rott & Oertle , LLP. We understand this area of law and have helped countless amounts of people get the compensation they deserve after a traumatic injury. We want to help you. We know that your needs go beyond medical expenses, costs that add up quickly. There is no reason that someone else’s negligence should mean you become financially ruined. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling our office.

Archives