Any of the injuries that you might suffer in a motor vehicle collision could have big financial consequences. A broken bone could cost a few thousand dollars in medical care and might require several weeks off of work.
However, some injuries are so expensive and so life-altering that the insurance of the driver responsible may not come close to covering the total expenses. Spinal cord injuries are a perfect example. High-speed collisions or crashes between vehicles with a big difference in their sizes can result in spinal cord injuries. Those injuries could cost far more than what someone will receive from the typical insurance policy in Texas.
How much does a spinal cord injury cost?
Spinal cord injuries are some of the most expensive medical issues. Although each one is unique, there is still plenty of information about the long-term impact of a spinal cord injury available based on the severity of the injury. Even before you consider the possibility of lost income, the medical costs and living expenses caused by a spinal cord injury are significant.
For those with an injury high on their neck, their first year of care will cost more than a million dollars. Every year after that, for the rest of their lives, that person will have nearly $185,000 in costs related to their injury. Even those with incomplete injuries that inhibit motor function can expect nearly $350,000 in costs the first year and over $42,000 per year after that.
How much will insurance in Texas cover?
Every driver gets to choose their own level of liability coverage, provided that they at least meet the state minimum. In Texas, drivers need to carry at least $30,000 worth of bodily injury liability protection in case they cause a crash that hurts one person. That minimum amount of coverage doubles when a collision hurts multiple people.
Obviously, $30,000 is far less than one year’s estimated medical costs for a spinal cord injury. Someone adjusting to life with a spinal cord injury after a car crash may need to look at other options for compensation, including a personal injury lawsuit. Understanding how catastrophic injuries from crashes can lead to insurance shortfalls may help you better protect yourself after a wreck.