What are the costs of spinal cord injury?

A spinal cord injury can change a person’s life forever. Not only can this lead to paralysis, but it can have a negative impact on the injured party’s finances.

The good thing is this: medicine and technology have come a long way. This means that anybody who suffers a spinal cord injury is able to get some type of treatment that allows him or her to improve his or her life and have a better outlook for the future.

The downside is the costs associated with a spinal cord injury. From a financial perspective, this type of injury could cost you a lot of money. From treatment to home modifications, there are many areas of financial concern.

According to the Rick Hansen Institute, the cost of spinal cord injury is larger than most people realize. Here are some statistics to consider:

— There are approximately 4,300 new cases of spinal cord injury in Canada every year. This is expected to reach 5,800 by 2030.

— Lifetime financial care requirements for a paraplegic are estimated at $1.5 million. This number increases to $3 million for a quadriplegic.

— Spinal cord injuries cost the Canadian economy $2.7 billion per year.

These statistics show that a spinal cord injury can cause a person serious financial distress.

A spinal cord injury can result from many circumstances, such as a motor vehicle or pedestrian accident. Even though you do your best to stay safe as a driver, passenger or pedestrian, you never know if another party will make a decision that leads to a spinal cord injury.

Source: Rick Hansen Institute, “What is SCI?,” accessed May 14, 2015