Treatment and Rehab Costs for Paralysis After a Car Accident

Car accidents often result in injuries, including devastating spinal cord injuries that cause paralysis. Whether you suffered partial or total paralysis in the accident, the costs of treatment are incredibly expensive, and you should be compensated for it in a legal claim.

Our lawyers can assess the various treatment costs for your paralysis, including expenses for rehabilitation, assistive equipment, modifications, and long-term care. Car accidents are the leading cause of paralysis injuries, and the first-year costs are commonly over $1,000,000. After the first year, victims usually still have treatment and rehab costs running into the hundreds of thousands of dollars each year following the crash. Our team can assess these costs in your lawsuit, as well as the pain and suffering compensation you deserve for the devastating impact on your life.

Call (617) 925-6407 for your free and confidential case evaluation with our Massachusetts personal injury lawyers at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan.

How Much Will Treatment and Rehab Cost for Paralysis Injuries from a Car Accident?

Few Injuries are as devastating and costly as spinal cord injuries. According to a National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center report, vehicle accidents are the cause of the majority of serious spinal cord injuries in the United States. Even a 25-year-old in the prime of their health can incur hundreds of thousands to over a million dollars in treatment and rehab costs for a spinal cord injury in the first year and hundreds of thousands each year after. A car accident victim who is 50 or older could have millions of dollars in treatment costs over their lifetime.

For instance, victims with high tetraplegia injuries have an average of $1,369,755 in expenses and $237,862 each subsequent year. Someone diagnosed with paraplegia, on average, has $667,569 in first-year expenses and $88,433 each year after.

Our Marshfield, MA car accident attorneys in Massachusetts can help cover these substantial costs by filing a lawsuit against the driver who injured you so you get the treatment you need. Common treatments include long-term hospitalization, intensive rehabilitative care, modifications, and specialized transportation. Our team can help assess these damages, as well as the pain and suffering serious spinal cord injuries cause you and your family.

Hospitalization

The first stage of treatment for spinal cord injuries usually involves a hospital stay, which can lead to medical expenses reaching tens of thousands of dollars right from the start. The costs largely depend on the specific treatments and interventions required to stabilize the victim’s injuries.

For many, this initial hospitalization is often just the start. Rehospitalization is often necessary if symptoms worsen or if other complications develop, adding to the financial strain.

Rehabilitation

After hospitalization, a comprehensive rehabilitation plan is essential but incredibly costly.

Physical therapy is usually necessary to regain movement and strength, while occupational therapy can help individuals relearn daily activities, like writing. Those with communication difficulties will need speech therapy.

Each of these sessions can be seriously expensive, often costing hundreds of dollars per appointment. A spinal cord injury victim might need these treatments for years or the rest of their life to regain a measure of functionality.

Assistive Equipment

Most individuals suffering from spinal injuries will also need modifications and assistive equipment. Wheelchairs, walkers, braces, and other mobility aids are not only necessary in most cases, but can also enhance your quality of life. This equipment can be much more expensive than people realize, especially if it is advanced or must be customized to fit the patient.

People with spinal cord injuries often need modifications to their homes and vehicles. Common home modifications include installing wheelchair ramps, widening doorways for easier access, and retrofitting bathrooms with support bars. Vehicles can also be modified to allow wheelchair access or to allow the individual to drive with special controls rather than floor pedals. The costs of modifications and construction can significantly increase the damages for which you should be compensated.

Long-Term Treatment

Many spinal cord injuries require long-term care, which a person might get at home or in a specialized facility. In-home nurses can support victims and families by helping with daily activities, like providing medications at regular times and monitoring the patient’s condition. However, these services are not cheap and can easily exceed thousands of dollars in costs per month.

Transportation Services

Sometimes, a spinal cord injury victim’s vehicle cannot be modified and, instead, must rely on specialized transportation services. Certain bus companies operate to transport individuals to their various rehabilitation appointments, friends’ and families’ homes, and wherever else they need to go. If the reason for transporting the person is an emergency, they might also need ambulance services.

Compensation You Can Recover for Spinal Cord Injuries After a Car Accident

As you can see, the medical and rehabilitative needs can easily result in overwhelming costs. Fortunately, our team can help you cover these costs with a lawsuit against the negligent driver or a structured settlement with the insurance company.

The above medical expenses will comprise the bulk of your damages. Our team will work with your healthcare providers and other experts to assess your current and future costs accurately.

If a spinal cord injury victim was employed, they likely could not work for a significant amount of time, if they can return to work at all. We can help recover lost income, as well as future lost earning potential. Perhaps you were enjoying a great career full of promise before the crash occurred. Our lawyers can determine the loss of potential by assessing the promotions, bonuses, and career advancements you will miss out on because of the defendant.

Non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, typically greatly increase the amount of compensation victims recover after a crash. The emotional suffering spinal cord injuries cause can be substantial, considering the decreased quality of life most individuals feel because of their injuries.

Our Massachusetts Car Accident Lawyers Can Help Assess Your Treatment Costs and File Your Claim to Recover the Compensation You Deserve

For a free case review, call the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407 to speak with our Boston car accident lawyers in Massachusetts.