What Are the Medical Costs Associated with Auto Accidents?

Being involved in an auto accident can encumber people with medical costs that may affect them for the rest of their lives. For our post today, we are going to be focusing on spinal cord injuries (SCI), a catastrophic injury common among auto accident survivors. In the United States, it is estimated that of the 12,000 people a year who sustain an SCI, almost half of them were the result of an auto accident.

The Medical Costs of an Injury Vary Based on Severity

The cost of rehabilitation and the immediate medical costs of an SCI can be in the millions of dollars. One important theme to take away from this post is that the costs of SCIs sustained during an auto accident are likely to vary depending on the severity of an injury. SCIs can paralyze parts of the body or the entire body. Differing severity will require varying methods for immediate treatment and will use different tools for rehabilitation and long-term care.

How Much Will My Medical Bills After My Auto Accident?

Depending on the injury and the severity, the medical bills associated with an SCI sustained in an auto accident are likely to vary. SCIs for example can differ greatly in cost depending on how severe the injury is, but they are usually extremely expensive.

For instance, those who suffer tetraplegia (a type of SCI that involves losing the use of all limbs) can face medical expenses of over $800,000 the first year after their injury. In general, for those who suffer an SCI, the cost of long-term care every subsequent year after their injury can vary from $40,000 to $171,000.

How Much Will My Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Needs Cost?

Using the example of an SCI once again, lifetime costs can be in the millions of dollars once rehabilitation and nursing care are included. SCIs can cost up to $3 million over a lifetime. Those suffering from tetraplegia can expect long-term care costs of over $4,000,000.

Some individuals who sustain an SCI may be completely dependent on care and require a ventilator. SCIs that are less severe will require rehabilitation with the goal of helping accident survivors become as independent as possible.

SCIs are not the only kind of catastrophic injury that can be sustained in the aftermath of an auto accident, but they provide a great example for showing the public how expensive and life changing they can be. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and burn injuries have similar expenses, with TBIs costing $600,000 to $1,875,000 over the course of a lifetime.

Bonnici Law Group has represented many individuals who have been injured in auto accidents, and as an experienced personal injury attorney, Bonnici Law Group will find the best options for helping accident victims move forward. Consultations with Bonnici Law Group are free and we encourage our readers to reach out to us if they need help.

Bonnici Law Group, APC – Injury Attorney Representing San Diego

Did You Know? Over 87 percent of all individuals who have sustained a spinal cord injury are discharged from hospitals to private homes.