Understanding the true cost of a spinal cord injury

When you suffer a spinal cord injury in New Jersey, it may impact virtually every aspect of your life. Spinal cord injuries have the potential to affect everything from your bladder and bowels to your circulatory and respiratory symptoms. They may also make it difficult or impossible for you to be able to earn a living.

Per ChristopherReeve.org, there are also numerous expenses related to a spinal cord injury. These costs may fluctuate based on factors such as the type of surgery you need to correct the injury, whether you have a neurological impairment and so on.

Estimating the annual costs of a spinal cord injury

Most people who suffer spinal cord injuries find that they pay more during the first year of recovery than they do in the years that follow. How much you ultimately pay per year varies based on the severity of your injury, among other considerations. However, you should expect to pay somewhere in the ballpark of $347,484 to $1,064,716 for medical care and living expenses during your first year after a spinal cord injury. After that, expect to pay somewhere in the range of $42,206 to $184,891 for expenses relating to a spinal cord injury.

Estimating the lifetime costs of a spinal cord injury

Your age when you suffer your injury helps determine how much your injury winds up costing you over your lifetime. If you were 25 at the time of your spinal cord injury, the lifetime costs associated with it may range between about $1,578,274 to $4,724,181. If you were 50 when you experienced your injury, you might pay between $1,113,990 and $2,596,329.

While these numbers should give you a general idea of how much a spinal cord injury might cost you, there are many variables involved that may determine final costs.