If you suffer a spinal cord injury on the job, the level of that injury is very important. It helps determine what type of physical limitations you may face. Sensation and mobility are often cut off below the level of the injury.
In all cases, spinal cord injuries tend to be very expensive. You need to consider both the short-term and long-term costs, as full healing may be impossible. Below are three different types of common spinal cord injuries that could mean it is time for you to look into your legal options.
High tetraplegia
High tetraplegia happens between the C1 and the C4 vertebrae. Because it is at such a high level, it can lead to over $1 million in medical costs in the first year. The estimated lifetime costs for someone who is 25 years old are nearly $5 million.
Low tetraplegia
When an injury happens between the C5 and the C8 vertebrae, then it is known as low tetraplegia. The costs can be over $769,000 in the first year, and the estimated lifetime costs for someone who is 25 years old are over $3.4 million.
Paraplegia
Paraplegia happens lower on the spinal cord and means that a person loses the use of their legs, although they can retain motor function higher up on the spinal column. This can still lead to over half a million dollars in costs in the first year, and the estimated lifetime costs are over $2.3 million.
Seeking compensation
As you can see from these cost estimates, this is a very expensive injury. Additionally, these are just estimates from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, and every situation is unique. If you have been injured on the job, it is important to know exactly what legal options you have.