The spinal cord plays a central role in nearly all physical, cognitive, and emotional functions. Even a small amount of trauma to the spinal cord can be a catastrophic injury. Indeed, a spinal cord injury can create financial costs that continue for years or even a lifetime. A Little Rock spine injury lawyer can help victims and families pursue the compensation needed to cover those costs.

An important point for injured victims to know is that the total long-term cost of a spinal cord injury can vary dramatically. The total may be in the six figures, seven figures, or even higher. A severe spinal cord injury may prevent someone from returning to their previous job, reduce their lifetime earning capacity, and leave them with lifelong medical needs.

What Long-Term Costs are Expected With a Spinal Cord Injury?

A spinal cord injury can generate substantial expenses for decades after the initial hospitalization. The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) reports that lifetime costs of this type of injury vary widely based on a person’s age and the neurological severity of the injury, and those estimates do not even include lost wages, lost benefits, or reduced productivity. A comprehensive financial assessment should consider several major categories of costs, including:

Ongoing Medical Care: For spinal cord injury claims, past medical bills may represent only a portion of overall medical needs. An injured victim may need specialist appointments, medications, diagnostic testing, additional surgeries, treatment for chronic pain, and other care for many years to come.
Rehabilitation: Spinal cord injuries can result in permanent impairments. Still, victims can often improve with the proper rehabilitative care. This care should be covered. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other rehabilitation services may continue long after the initial inpatient rehabilitation period.
Assistive Equipment: You may need a wide range of equipment to manage the aftermath of a spinal cord injury, including a wheelchair, braces, transfer equipment, a specialized bed, and more. As part of your claim, the long-term cost projection should account for replacement as well as the initial purchase.
Home and Transportation: Beyond medical equipment, spinal cord injury patients often need changes to their physical environment, such as ramps, widened doorways, accessible bathrooms, lifts, or modified vehicles.
Personal and Attendant Care: In some cases, a professional may need to provide ongoing personal and/or attendant care. A severe spinal cord injury may require daily assistance with bathing, dressing, transfers, meals, transportation, or medical needs.
Lost Income/Earning Capacity: A spinal cord injury can also prevent a person from working. If you are forced to retire, change career, reduce hours, or otherwise lose income because of your accident, you have the right to seek financial compensation for the full extent of your loss of earning power.

The reality is that these costs can be extremely high, and they may last for decades or even a lifetime. It is one of the factors that makes spinal cord injury claims fundamentally different from cases involving injuries that are likely to heal completely. You need a Little Rock personal injury lawyer experienced in navigating the challenges of a spinal cord injury claim.

Spinal Cord Injury Compensation Must Be Comprehensive

An Arkansas spinal cord injury claim should account for the full consequences of the injury before the injured victim accepts a final settlement. Arkansas law allows a plaintiff to recover future medical expenses when evidence shows the treatment is reasonably certain to be required, although the law does not require the same level of specificity used to prove past medical expenses. For example, in the 1995 case of Arthur v. Zearley, the Arkansas Supreme Court emphasized that reliable evidence must establish the need for future treatment. The state’s highest court was clear: Juries cannot merely be left to speculate.

That matters in a spinal cord injury case in Arkansas. Your Little Rock personal injury lawyer can help to connect you with the right medical and financial experts for your specific case. As an example, a physician may be needed to establish the need for future treatment. Alternatively, a life-care planner can project the cost of medical equipment, attendant care, and/or home modifications. Further, economists may then quantify the value of diminished earning capacity.

FAQs: Long-Term Costs and Spinal Cord Damage

How do I get a settlement for a spinal cord injury in Arkansas?

A settlement means that the defense, usually through their insurer, is willing to pay compensation to resolve the case. Injured victims need to be prepared to prove both liability and damages. A strong claim rests on compelling evidence. You don’t have to navigate the claims process alone: An experienced Little Rock catastrophic injury lawyer can help.

Are spinal cord injuries usually permanent?

Unfortunately, many spinal cord injuries cause permanent impairments. Still, the prognosis for any specific person will always depend on the location and severity of the spinal cord damage. You need immediate medical attention and the proper ongoing care. The right treatment, which should be accounted for in your damages, is key to recovering from this type of catastrophic injury.

How are non-economic damages valued for a spinal cord injury?

Injured victims can seek compensation for non-economic damages, including pain and suffering and long-term disability. Arkansas does not use a fixed formula to calculate non-economic damages. Instead, juries are instructed to use their good judgment to assess an injured victim’s harm. A Little Rock personal injury attorney can help you build a strong case.

Contact Our Little Rock Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today

At Reed Firm, our Little Rock catastrophic injury attorney has the experience needed to handle spinal cord injury claims. If you have any questions about the long-term costs associated with spinal cord damage, we are here as a legal resource. Call us at 501-777-7333 or contact us online for a free initial case review. Our firm handles spinal cord injury claims in Little Rock, Pulaski County, and throughout Arkansas.

What are the Long-Term Costs of a Spinal Cord Injury?