Nearly every American, up to 80 percent, will suffer back pain at some point in his or her life. Whether chronic pain from poor ergonomics or an improperly healed injury, or acute pain from whiplash, sprains, strains, or overexertion, back pain can make everyday tasks difficult or even unbearable. A serious back injury from a fall or automobile accident may lead to chronic pain and limited mobility and function. These injuries include fractured vertebrae, herniated disks, and other trauma often caused by motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, falls, and job site accidents. For some people, a catastrophic back injury is devastating, causing permanent paralysis or loss of function. Spinal cord injuries are particularly destructive, because unlike other parts of the body, the spinal cord is unable to heal itself. The spinal cord is the delivery system for messages from the brain to all other parts of the body. Once the spinal cord is damaged through a compression or severance, the pathway is closed, and permanent disability results below the level of the injury.
For victims of accidents causing spinal cord injury, the emotional trauma can be as great as the physical toll. In most cases, a compressed or severed spinal injury leaves a permanent impact, and those who endure such an injury must learn to adjust to a new reality.
Spinal cord injuries are almost always preventable injuries caused by a serious accident that could have been avoided. Careless or reckless drivers, irresponsible business owners or employers, and others can create a dangerous situation through their negligence. If this negligence leads to a serious injury, a personal injury lawyer can help accident victims and their families obtain due compensation from those liable.
About Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)
The spinal cord, a complex bundle of nerves running from the base of the brain down the entire back, is responsible for controlling bodily function, including movement and sensation. The spinal cord is protected by the spinal column, or the vertebrae that comprise the backbone. If the vertebrae are damaged or penetrated, the spinal cord can sustain damage that interrupts the neural impulses and causes permanent disability through complete or partial paralysis below the site of injury.
The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) reports that between 12,000 and 20,000 people in the United States sustain a spinal cord injury (SCI). This number does not include victims who die as a result of SCI and other massive trauma at the scene of a fatal accident. In addition to the several thousand people who sustain a new injury, there are approximately 270,000 Americans currently living with SCI.
In some cases, damage to the spinal cord occurs through infection or illness, but the most frequent cause of SCI is trauma. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists the most frequent causes of SCI as follows:
Although anyone can suffer a spinal cord injury, teen boys and men are particularly at risk--up to 80 percent of all SCI victims are male.
The results of a compressed spine injury or a severed spine injury can be devastating to those who endure them. Common disabilities associated with SCI include:
According to The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, the costs associated with care, treatment, and rehabilitation of SCI are quite high, ranging from $15,000 to $30,000 annually, depending on the level and severity of the injury. Over a lifetime, the NSCISC estimates the cost of a spinal cord injury to be up to $3 million.
If you or a loved one has been injured through another person's negligence or malice, you do not have to bear this economic toll alone. With the help and expertise of a qualified personal injury lawyer, you can obtain financial recompense for both economic and non-economic damages incurred. Call to see how we can help.
