The first cost people consider after a spinal cord injury will typically be the medical expenses stemming from their treatment. Not only will there be massive medical bills that start piling up immediately after the crash, but spinal cord injuries also typically generate a lifetime of ongoing medical support requirements.
Other people will focus more on how a spinal cord injury might affect someone’s long-term earning potential. A reduction in income because of physical limitations and social stigma can absolutely affect someone’s finances. However, people sometimes overlook the two secondary expenses below that can have a major impact on someone’s costs after a spinal cord injury. These include:
1. Making a home accessible
The cost to make a home accessible for someone in a wheelchair can range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. The style of the home and whether someone rents or owns their home have a major impact on how much it costs them to make their home accessible. Redoing bathrooms, adding ramps and changing kitchens are among the more costly projects possibly required.
2. Securing safe transportation
Those who depend on wheelchairs may need specialized vans that can cost $40,000 or more. It can also cost many thousands of dollars to convert an existing vehicle to allow someone to operate it with only their hands. The expenses involved in making a home and someone’s transportation accessible can significantly increase the full financial impact of a spinal cord injury.
Identifying and accounting for the expenses likely after a catastrophic injury can help people obtain the compensation they really need for themselves and their families. It helps to learn more about the legal options for recovery.