Every year, there are at least 17,000 new cases of spinal cord injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In hopes of raising awareness and promoting more extensive research, National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month was established. Read on to learn more and find out what you should do if you recently sustained a spinal cord injury in an accident caused by negligence.
What Are the Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries?
Spinal cord injuries occur when the ligaments, discs, vertebrae, or the spinal cord itself sustain damage. Damage can occur in numerous ways, such as a blow to the spine that crushes or fractures the vertebrae or a knife wound that penetrates the spinal cord. There are also numerous health conditions that can result in damage to the spinal cord, such as cancer, infections, arthritis, and inflammation of the spine.
Below are some of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries:
- Traffic accidents: Automobile and motorcycle accidents account for nearly half of all new spinal cord injuries that occur every year. They are the leading cause of this serious injury.
- Slip and fall accidents: Over 15% of spinal cord injuries are caused by falls. These accidents are more common among individuals over the age of 65.
- Violence: Acts of violence, including physical altercations, knife wounds, and gunshot wounds account for 12% of all spinal cord injuries.
- Sports injuries: Many athletic activities are high impact and can potentially result in serious injuries. They account for 10% of spinal cord injuries.
- Alcohol: About 1 out of every 4 spinal cord injuries involve alcohol as a factor.
- Diseases: Most spinal cord injuries are caused by accidents or acts of violence, but some are also the result of diseases like cancer, osteoporosis, and arthritis.
Different Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
There are two types of spinal cord injuries – complete and incomplete. Within these two categories, there are various injuries that can affect a survivor’s life in many ways. Complete spinal cord injuries cause a loss of mobility and loss of sensation below the injury point. Incomplete spinal cord injuries will have a less severe impact on mobility and sensation, depending on the location and severity of the injury. Additionally, both types of spinal cord injuries might result in some of the following symptoms:
- Chronic pain
- Numbness
- Trouble breathing
- Sexual dysfunction
- Loss of movement in one or more limbs
- Loss of bowel and bladder control functions
Speak to an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Today!
Spinal cord injuries are life-altering and can be immensely destructive to a survivor’s life. At Kornfeld Law, our personal injury team is committed to fighting on behalf of victims of spinal cord injuries, so they can secure the compensation they deserve to pay for their medical expenses now and in the future. Compensation can also cover a multitude of other losses, including loss of consortium, pain and suffering, and lost earning capacity.
Call our law office today at (425) 657-5255 to request a free case review.