Deerfield Beach Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
Spinal cord injuries are amongst some of the most devastating that a person can endure, both financially and physically speaking. Depending on the severity of the injury, a spinal cord injury can affect everything from a person’s ability to feel certain sensations to his or her very ability to walk, talk, and function. Because of how life-altering a spinal cord injury can be, Florida courts treat spinal cord injury cases with the utmost care and regard.
However, despite how delicately Florida courts treat these types of cases, they are never open and shut. Spinal cord injury victims still have a difficult time proving liability and therefore, collecting fair compensation for their damages. For this reason, if you or a loved one sustained a life-changing injury, it is best to retain the help of a qualified attorney before pursuing your claim. The Deerfield Beach spinal cord injury lawyers at Leifer & Ramirez are prepared to help you gather the evidence necessary to prove fault and ensure the best possible outcome to your case.
The Cost of a Spinal Cord Injury
When you get down to it, personal injury cases all arise because of cost. In order for a plaintiff to prevail, he or she must prove that his or her injury resulted in actual monetary damages. For spinal cord injuries, this is not too difficult to do.
Medical expenses alone for spinal cord injuries are often in excess of millions of dollars. While the exact costs are dependent upon the severity of the injuries and the number of medical services required, victims can expect to pay for the following types of care:
- Trauma care;
- Spinal surgery;
- Rehabilitation, such as speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy;
- Long-term care;
- Medical equipment; and
- Pain medications.
According to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, average expenses for victims are as follows:
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For the first year, people with quadriplegia can expect to pay approximately $1 million for care. For less severe cases, the total comes slightly under that, at about $770,000.
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Patients with paraplegia can expect to pay a half million dollars in the first year for medical expenses.
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Those whose injuries do not result in complete lack of motor function can expect to pay an average of $347,000 in the first year.
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After the first year, individuals with quadriplegia can expect to pay between $113,000 and $184,000 annually; those with paraplegia can expect to pay $69,000 annually; and those with incomplete motor function can expect to pay about $42,000 annually.
For many people, even $42,000 a year is more than their annual wages, and $184,000 is more than the cost of their house. While insurance does kick in a bit, it does not cover the full cost of damages.
Furthermore, medical expenses only cover a portion of what individuals who sustain spinal cord injuries suffer. One year after injury, just 11.7 percent of spinal cord injury victims are employed. 20 years post injury, that figure jumps to just 35.2 percent. Combined with the sky-high medical expenses, the loss of wages is catastrophic, financially speaking.
Non-Economic Damages of Spinal Cord Injuries
The cost of medical expenses and lost wages is only a fraction of the real cost of spinal cord injuries. In addition to suffering financially, spinal cord injury victims are forced to relearn how to do the most basic of tasks, such as eating, brushing their teeth, or getting out of bed in the morning. Many victims are unable to enjoy the things that once brought them pleasure, such as hiking, surfing, biking, or running. Some even suffer in the relationship department, as they learn that they become impotent because of their injuries.
Though it is difficult to put a price on something as intangible as happiness, the Florida courts do their best to ensure that accident victims are compensated for ALL of their damages, and not just economic ones. Your lawyer can help you express the extent of emotional and physical pain your injuries have caused you and put a value on said damages to ensure that you are rightfully compensated.
Let a Lawyer Fight for Compensation on Your Behalf
If you or a loved one sustained a spinal cord injury because of someone else’s negligence, you deserve to be compensated for your injuries. Contact the Deerfield Beach spinal cord injury lawyers at Leifer & Ramirez to discuss your case and options for recovery today.
