The Lifetime Cost of Quadriplegia

Jacky Gale | November 15th, 2017

It’s easy to take mobility for granted. But for some unfortunate patients, mobility is little more than a distant memory. Quadriplegia (also called tetraplegia) is the loss of motor and sensory function of the trunk, arms, hands, legs, and pelvic organs.

This means that not only can the patient be unable to move, but also other essential bodily functions can be impaired or lost entirely. Needless to say, quadriplegia significantly affects quality of life. It also results in exorbitant medical and care expenses.

Lawsuit funding for quadriplegia victims

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with quadriplegia after an accident, you might choose to file a lawsuit against the negligent party. The settlement or verdict recovered can be used for medical bills, home health aides, durable medical equipment, and anything else the patient could need for a lifetime of care.

The problem with litigation is that it can take months or years for a case to be resolved. It may take even longer to receive a check. In the meantime, families can experience significant financial hardships, and they might even consider filing for bankruptcy. There’s a better solution: legal funding.

Lawsuit funding is non-recourse. It’s a cash advance made against the anticipated settlement or jury award, and if you lose your case, you’ll pay nothing. It’s a risk-free way to provide for your loved one’s needs and your entire family while awaiting the resolution of the lawsuit.

Lifetime expenses of quadriplegia

Complete quadriplegia is the least common type of spinal cord injury, but it’s the most disabling. The lifetime cost of quadriplegia can be jaw-dropping. Of course, it varies depending on the age of the patient. Younger patients are expected to require more years of care than people who were paralyzed in their 50s or 60s.

According to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, an average estimate for the cost of complete quadriplegia for the first year alone is $1,064,716. During each subsequent year of the patient’s life, quadriplegia results in about $184,891 in costs.

If the patient suffers quadriplegia at the age of 25, given an average lifespan for the patient, he or she is expected to require $4,724,181 in costs. Someone who suffered quadriplegia at the age of 50 will require $2,596,329 in costs. However, a catastrophic injury lawsuit can demand far more, as these figures do not take into account the patient’s lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Pre settlement funding from LawStreet Capital

Don’t let a catastrophic injury force you into bankruptcy, or force you to accept a settlement for less than what you deserve. Get the financial help you need quickly at LawStreet Capital. We are a leading lawsuit funding company operating in all 50 states.

When you choose LawStreet Capital for your pre-settlement funding, you won’t have to worry about hidden fees, sky-high interest rates, credit checks, or employment verifications.  Call us toll-free, and you could be approved within 24 hours.

Additional Resources on Quadriplegia Care Costs:

  1. Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Costs of living with SCI, https://www.christopherreeve.org/living-with-paralysis/costs-and-insurance/costs-of-living-with-spinal-cord-injury
  2. Mayo Clinic, Spinal Cord Injury, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/spinal-cord-injury/basics/definition/con-20023837