Paralysis is a life-changing condition. The injury that causes it can happen in a matter of seconds, and the results can last a lifetime. In addition to dealing with the immediate and long-term aftermath of the injury itself, there is added stress caused by worries about how to pay for it, how to make up for lost wages, and how to move forward.
You probably have many questions about what to expect and how to adjust to your new situation. We provide here some guidance about your next steps and how an attorney can help you recover compensation for the high costs of care.
If you or a loved one has been paralyzed in an accident, contact our paralysis injury attorneys at The Khalidi Law Firm as soon as you can. These injuries are life-changing and extremely expensive. With over 20 years of experience, our attorneys at The Khalidi Law firm can let you know what to expect. Contact us online or call us today to set up your free consultation with one of our compassionate and experienced attorneys.
Acute Care and Therapy
You may wonder what you should expect in the coming weeks and months. The first few months after an injury are generally the most difficult. Typically, the initial medical treatment is called acute care and addresses the immediate issues associated with a paralysis injury. Depending on the nature of your injury, you may require intensive medical treatment.
Acute care may include a range of treatments. It can include surgery, including the possibility of amputation in cases where a limb is severely damaged. To prevent unwanted, involuntary movement, muscle relaxers and other medications may be prescribed in the case of spastic paralysis.
If you’ve experienced a curable form of paralysis, the doctors will attempt to heal your body as soon as they can. After your condition is stabilized, your doctor will probably suggest physical and occupational therapy. These therapies will help you regain as much control over the muscles affected by the accident as your body will allow. The therapy you experience in this period will help you return to as normal a way of life as your condition makes possible. You’ll learn how to adapt to new forms of movement and of new approaches to accomplishing daily tasks.
Long-Term Costs of Paralysis Care
When you have a paralysis injury, it is likely you not only feel great stress about the immediate costs of care, but also the costs for the remainder of your life. Your concerns are well justified. The acute care of paralysis likely will be the most extensive treatment you’ll require, but there are still serious long-term treatments involved. Your expected costs will vary depending on the nature of your injury, but according to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, the annual costs of a relatively light paralysis injury are estimated to be $42,206. A severe paralysis injury, often related to a spinal cord injury, costs significantly more.
The first year is nearly alwaysmore costly than the subsequent years. Partial loss of motor function is estimated to cost $347,484. At the other end of the spectrum, high tetraplegia paralysis (loss of function of all four limbs and potentially, the torso) is estimated to cost $184,891 per year, and $1,064,716 for the first year.
There are many variables in estimating the lifetime costs of a paralysis injury. For example, a younger person will have a higher estimated lifetime cost, simply because he or she will probably live with the injury for many more years than an older person. As a general figure, however, it’s rare for an individual who suffers any kind of paralysis to incur lifetime costs below one million dollars. More severe injuries incur much higher costs.
When to Talk to a Paralysis Injury Attorney
It goes without saying that the costs of a paralysis injury are often beyond the means of most families, so many individuals who were injured in an accident will need to talk to a lawyer to explore their legal options.
Given the costs involved, it’s extremely important to know how much to expect in costs—otherwise you might be tempted to accept a settlement that sounds good, but is actually far less than what you need.
Last of all, a skilled attorney has the knowledge and experience to help you get the personal injury award you deserve. A good attorney knows the insurance companies’ tactics and will fight for you in court.
Questions? Our Compassionate Attorneys Can Help
Let us help you determine whether a paralysis injury you or a loved one suffered in an accident may qualify for compensation under a personal injury claim. The attorneys at The Khalidi Law Firm have more than 20 years of experience helping injured persons in the Tucson area get the closure they deserve. We know all too well the upheaval serious injuries bring to daily life, and how prospects for the future can change drastically.
If you have suffered such an injury or lost a loved one as a result of a paralysis injury, we would like to help you. Contact our paralysis injury lawyers at The Khalidi Law Firm in Tucson. There is no need to worry about costs. You will not pay any fees unless we win your case.
