How Can Spinal Cord Treatment Effect a Claimant’s Family?
When spinal cord injuries result in paralysis, it can have an serious emotional and financial impact on families because roles often change when someone becomes paralyzed. A person who was a caregiver before may now need continual care.
Emotional Impact
It should never be assumed that a family member will care for a paralyzed person for the rest of their life. However, insurance companies and defense lawyers often try to put pressure on the family in such situations. They may assert that because a paralyzed individual has a family, they have people to take care of them for the rest of their lives. The stress of taking care of a disabled family member can cause mental health issues and loss of consortium. These are damages Texas law allows spouses and children to seek in a civil claim.
Financial Impact
Spinal cord injury treatment can quickly become expensive. Simultaneously, one may experience decreased revenue from taking time off work to be treated, or may have lost their ability to continue working altogether. Additionally, family members may be unable to work as much as they take care of their injured loved one. In any event, accident injuries put financial stress on families.