For many victims of a spinal cord injury (SCI), there is no returning to a normal life. After the accident, there’s usually a long journey ahead requiring you to learn how to live, move, and regain your independence. When you’ve lost the use of your legs and/or can no longer move around like you once did, many survivors find their freedom is rebuilt through SCI assistive devices. These can include braces, wheelchairs, standing frames, and robot exoskeletons that help restore a person’s motion and dignity.
It’s important to understand that these tools and devices aren’t luxuries or indulgences. They’re medical necessities that allow someone with an SCI to participate in daily life—to work, socialize, parent, and take care of their families.
The personal injury lawyers at Peterson Law Firm understand that when your SCI was caused by someone else’s negligence, your compensation must account for all your medical needs—now and going forward. Not only should your financial settlement include immediate hospital and doctor bills, but it must include the cost for a lifetime of assistive technology. Those future needs must be fully recognized and included in your personal injury claim. Here, we discuss the importance of assistance devices, the cost of replacing them, and how we can help people who have suffered an SCI in an accident obtain full and fair compensation.
Assistive Devices Are Critical for SCI Accident Victims
When you’re in an accident, whether it’s a car crash, a fall from significant height, or a crime of violence, spinal cord injuries often result in partial or complete paralysis, reduced muscle control, or loss of sensation below the injury site. Depending on the level and severity of injury, survivors may experience paraplegia or quadriplegia.
When you have limited mobility or can’t move at all, there are assistive devices that are designed to help improve a person’s mobility and independence, as well as the following:
- Reduce reliance on caregivers
- Support rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Enhance overall quality of life
- Prevent secondary medical complications
What many people don’t realize, and the negligent party won’t want you to consider, is that mobility equipment is rarely a one-time purchase. Devices wear down and wear out; technology advances; bodies change; and recovery needs change. How a person with an SCI recovers in the first 18 months may be drastically different than their recovery and needs after that. They may regain or lose function as time goes on. This may require updated or completely different support equipment. So, our lawyers know that your personal injury claim must account for replacement devices because they’re not optional—they’re necessary.
The Use of Manual Wheelchairs
A manual wheelchair provides a powerful tool for many SCI survivors, as it often becomes their primary mode of mobility. So, it’s important that the chair be properly fitted to support their posture and ability to maneuver. Chairs should be customized for the following:
- Body weight and size
- Degree of upper-body strength
- Lifestyle needs
- Indoor and outdoor use
If the patient has an ill-fitting wheelchair, it can cause other medical problems, including back pain, shoulder and arm injuries, and pressure ulcers.
Additionally, manual wheelchairs generally require replacement every five years, though heavy use may shorten that timeline. Cushions, wheels, and bearings often wear out sooner and require periodic replacement. Failure to include long-term wheelchair replacement costs in a legal claim can leave survivors facing thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses.
Typically, a manual wheelchair costs between $100 - $500. Wheelchairs with specialized seats or custom modifications can range from $1,000 to $5,000.
Power Wheelchairs
Not all SCI survivors have the upper-body strength needed for manual propulsion. Thus, they may need a power wheelchair. Even though you may not need one now, it’s possible you will someday lack the ability to move around without a wheelchair with motorized controls. Our attorneys understand this and work to factor that into your claim.
Modern power wheelchairs often include the following:
- Tilt and recline functions. These features reduce pressure ulcer risk and improve circulation.
- Standing capabilities. Some models allow users to rise into a standing position, promoting bone health and digestion.
- Specialized controls. Sip-and-puff systems, head arrays, or touchpads enable operation for individuals with limited hand function.
Basic electric wheelchairs start at around $1,500. However, the price can go up to $5,000 or more for higher-end models. Power chairs can cost $20,000 to $40,000 or more, depending on how they’re customized. Additionally, batteries typically require replacement every one to two years. And like manual chairs, power wheelchairs often require full replacement approximately every five years. When calculating compensation, projected lifetime replacement must be included—not just the initial purchase.
Standing Frames: How They Support Bone and Organ Health
When SCI patients sit for prolonged periods, it can lead to serious health complications for SCI survivors, including osteoporosis, poor circulation, and muscle contractures. Standing frames allow patients to maintain an upright position safely, even without independent leg function.
There are medical benefits to using a standing frame, including the following:
- Improve cardiovascular health
- Improved bone density
- Enhanced bowel and bladder function
- Reduced spasticity
Additionally, paralyzed patients may benefit from wearable devices that allow them to stand and walk.
Insurance companies might question whether these devices are medically necessary. But our lawyers will help ensure there are physician recommendations that support the value of these devices and help ensure they’re included in your compensation.
Exoskeleton Devices
There has been advanced technology for SCI assistive devices—wearable robotic exoskeletons. These devices are battery powered and strap onto the legs and torso, allowing users to stand and walk with assistance. Not only do they promote upright mobility, but they can also help with the following:
- Improve circulation and bone density
- Reduce secondary health complications
- Provide psychological benefits from walking again
Some exoskeleton systems are used primarily in rehab clinics, while others are approved for personal use. But the cost is high. Personal exoskeletons can cost $70,000 or more, and they require:
- Ongoing maintenance
- Software updates
- Battery replacementsb
Although not every SCI survivor is a candidate, when medically appropriate, exoskeleton costs should be evaluated as part of a life care plan.
Additional Equipment, Additional Costs
There are other devices that can help improve the life of a person dealing with an SCI. For patients who suffer an incomplete SCI, braces can provide stability and partial mobility. While braces may allow limited ambulation, they also require frequent reassessment as muscle tone and strength change over time.
Other costly requirements by an SCI patient include cushions, ramps, and environmental changes. Often, homes and vehicles must be modified to accommodate the changed needs of the patient. Common associated expenses include:
- Wheelchair-accessible vans
- Home ramps and widened doorways
- Roll-in showers
- Stair lifts
- Pressure-relieving cushions and mattress systems
Every component supports safe, independent living, and a comprehensive spinal cord injury claim must account for both equipment and the environment required to use it effectively.
Compensation Should Reflect a Lifetime of Mobility Needs
When spinal cord injuries result from car accidents, trucking collisions, premises liability incidents, or other negligent acts, compensation must extend far beyond immediate hospital bills. A thorough claim should include the following for the victim’s lifetime:
- Past medical expenses
- Future medical care
- Assistive device purchase and replacement
- Home and vehicle modifications
- Lost income and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and emotional distress
Life care planners and medical experts often calculate projected lifetime equipment costs, adjusting for inflation and anticipated replacement cycles. Without detailed documentation, insurers may attempt to undervalue these needs.
Why a Kansas City SCI Lawyer Is So Important
Our Kansas City lawyers understand that SCI personal injury cases are among the most complex. They require deep investigation, medical expertise, and long-term financial projections. We can do the following for your claim:
- Work with life care planners. These professionals outline anticipated assistive devices and medical needs over a lifetime.
- Consult rehabilitation specialists. Expert testimony supports the necessity of advanced mobility equipment.
- Calculate future replacement cycles. Attorneys ensure equipment lifespan and maintenance costs are factored into settlement demands.
- Challenge insurance resistance. Insurers often dispute high-cost technology like exoskeletons or standing wheelchairs.
- Present compelling evidence at trial if necessary. Demonstrating daily realities can help juries understand why these devices are essential.
Missouri law allows injured individuals to pursue damages that reflect the full scope of their losses. Proper legal representation helps ensure that compensation aligns with medical reality—not insurance shortcuts. We know that assistive devices provide SCI patients the ability to move independently, improve emotional well-being, help with maintaining a job, and help patients stand eye level with their friends and family. All of these enhance and elevate a person’s daily life in profound ways. But these tools come at a high cost—and that cost often continues year after year. With careful legal guidance and thorough life care planning, survivors can pursue compensation that protects not only today’s needs, but tomorrow’s independence as well.