The human spine is made up of 33 vertebrae that work together to allow you to bend, twist, walk and generally make any movement. At Donovan & O’Connor LLP, we know how damaging an injury to the spinal cord can be. Fortunately, there are some options for those who have suffered life-changing damage and the skyrocketing costs associated with it.
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, the estimated lifetime cost of an injury to the spinal cord can range between just over $1 million to more than $4 million. While the leading cause of such an event is a motor vehicle accident, falls, such as those that could occur in the workplace, or medical malpractice, can also lead to a damaged spine.
Depending on the circumstances, people may be able to seek compensation through the following methods:
- A workers’ compensation claim for injuries that were a direct result of employment
- A personal injury claim for events caused by someone else’s negligence
- A medical malpractice claim when medical staff caused the injury
- A Social Security claim for those who are no longer able to work
Following an injury, patients have much to focus on, in terms of healing. It is important during this time, however, for victims, or their loved ones, to keep track of important information that could be useful in filing a claim, such as a timeline of events, medical bills and notes from doctor visits. This can help an attorney not only build a strong argument for a case, but also to put a price tag on just how much the injury has cost the patient.
For more information on this topic, please visit our page on spinal cord doctor errors.