Spinal Cord Injuries

The Physical Impact of a Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries tend to be among the most severe and life-altering injuries that people suffer in accidents. Spinal cord injuries tend to cause problems ranging from mild swelling and back pain, to significant, lifelong injuries like permanent paralysis. Spinal cord injuries are incredibly delicate injuries that often require specialized and complicated treatment, like surgery or rehabilitation. Many kinds of accidents and trauma result in spinal cord injuries. When the victim of an accident suffers a serious spinal cord injury, they tend to require extended hospitalization and expert surgical, neurological, and physical therapy care to recover, all of which can be extremely costly.

Spinal Cord Injury Statistics

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, as of 2018 the annual incidence of spinal cord injury in the U.S. is approximately 54 cases per one million residents in the U.S. or a total of 17,700 new cases of spinal cord injury each year; this number does not include those who suffer spinal cord injuries but perish at the scene of their accident. Currently, there are approximately 288,000 people in the U.S. living with spinal cord injuries.

Since 2015, most spinal cord injuries have occurred in motor vehicle accidents, with 38.3 percent of new spinal cord injuries occurring in vehicular accidents. Slips and falls are a close second, with 31.6 percent of new spinal cord injuries occurring during a fall. Other usual sources of spinal cord injuries include acts of violence (particularly gunshot wounds), sports accidents, and medical or surgical errors or incidents.

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

Trauma that causes spinal cord injuries may arise from various sources. Spinal cord injuries are typically caused when the spinal cord or spinal column receives a quick and forceful impact that crack or rupture the vertebrae. As noted above, there are several common causes of spinal cord injuries, including:

• Motor vehicle accidents, which are often caused by the negligence of one or more drivers on the road or may be caused due to a mechanical defect in a vehicle that causes the accident or fails to protect occupants from injury in an accident
• Falls, which are a common cause of spinal cord injury among seniors, who are at greater risks for falls due to loss of coordination, limb control, and muscle strength. When a fall victim also suffers from diseases like osteoporosis, it can easily lead to vertebrae fractures that result in spinal cord injuries
• Sports activities, which can impart traumatic forces to the back that inflict spinal cord injuries

Compensation Available in Spinal Cord Injury Cases

If you have suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident caused by someone else’s wrongful acts or negligence, you may be entitled to certain compensation for your injuries. This compensation may include:

• Medical expenses: Includes past and future expenses, such as hospital stays, doctor’s visits, surgeries, medication, or physical therapy, to treat your spinal cord injuries
• Lost wages: Includes income lost due to work missed because of your spinal cord injuries; if you are unable to return to work or make the same level of income as you did pre-accident, also includes the difference in income you will miss out on
• Pain and suffering: Includes compensation for physical and/or emotional distress caused by your spinal cord injuries, as well as for the loss of quality of life

Contact a Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Spinal Cord Injury Case in Pennsylvania

Did you or a loved one sustain serious spinal cord injuries in Pennsylvania? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at the Marrone Law Firm, LLC represent clients suffering spinal cord injuries in Philadelphia, Center City, University City, and throughout Pennsylvania. Call (866) 732-6700 or fill out our brief contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 200 S. Broad St., #400, Philadelphia, PA 19102, as well as offices in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.