Currently, there are approximately 450,000 Americans living with spinal cord injuries. Every year, there are about 10,000 new cases across the United States. The vast majority of these injuries (82%) affect male patients between the ages of 16 and 30. Spinal cord injuries can cause either quadriplegia (paralysis from the neck down) or paraplegia (paralysis from the waist down). Quadriplegia is actually slightly more common than paraplegia, according to SpinalInjury.net.
The spinal cord does not have to be completely severed in order for paralysis or at least some loss of function to take place. Most people with these types of injuries actually have intact cords, but suffer from damage severe enough to affect functionality. Spinal cord injuries are classified into two types: complete and incomplete. With complete spinal cord injuries, there is no voluntary movement or sensation below the level of the injury on either side of the body. With incomplete injuries, there may be some functionality below the level of the injury, and there may also be more movement in one limb over the other. Sensation may also be present.
Spinal cord injuries typically occur as the result of physical injury during traumatic events. 36% of spinal cord injuries are the result of motor vehicle accidents, 28.9% result from violence and 21.2% occur as the result of falls. Since these types of events are often caused by willful acts or negligence, they are usually prosecutable. Intentional acts must be tried in criminal courts, but personal injury attorneys can try spinal cord injuries as a result of negligence in civil courts to recover damages.
If you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury as the result of negligence on the part of an individual or a corporation, you must take legal action. Spinal cord injuries can be extremely challenging and expensive, as they often require costly medical care and supplies needed for the remainder of life.
