Top Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
Few things can affect the body the way a spinal cord injury can. The spinal cord is a collective of nerves that’s protected by the backbone. The spinal cord is essentially the messenger that connects you body’s primary functions to the brain. When a spinal cord injury occurs, the body can be seriously affected. Statistics show that over 450,000 people in America live with some form of spinal cord injuries with a staggering 8,000 new diagnosed cases added each year.
Injuries caused by SCI could include paralysis be it partial or whole, poor circulation, respiratory problems, numbness in limbs, and much more.
In general, a spinal cord injury is easy to avoid. Most cases of these injuries stem from complete and total negligence and had the correct precautions been in place, they could have been avoided altogether. So what’s the deal? Let’s take a look at the most common causes of spinal cord injuries according to research conducted by Mayo Clinic.
Auto Accidents
Auto accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries by a rather wide margin. These accidents cause an alarming 35% of new spinal cord injuries every year. Reckless driving, driving intoxicated, and other common accident types all contribute to this number.
Slips and Falls
The next highest cause of spinal cord injuries specifically affects the older populace (65+) but can really affect anyone. Over 25% of new injuries occur as a result of a slip and fall. This could be in the workplace, on the street, on commercial property and others. Slips and falls largely occur as a result of not having proper signage warning victims of a potential slip and fall.
Violence
Research conducted by the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center found that well over 15% of spinal cord injuries are caused by random or premeditated acts of violence. Assailants can target victims using guns or knives and cause severe injury.
Sports
It’s not uncommon for people to take part in local sporting hobbies. Be it on an official team or just for fun, it’s a good way to pass the time. It’s tragic then that over about 9% of SCIs can affect those who play. Common injuries are due to sudden impact in more aggressive sports or a poorly calculated dive into shallow water.
Medical Malpractice
Mistakes happen but they definitely shouldn’t when seeking medical care. Even so, many SCIs have resulted from surgeries near the spine, anesthesia errors, and failure to properly diagnose an injury.
Aside from the life changing afflictions that SCIs can cause a person, they can also be the source of tremendous financial burden. Medical costs associated with this kind of injury can easily skyrocket into the thousands, leaving a person stranded and troubled financially.
Don’t be a victim. If you or a loved one has been affected by a spinal cord injury, contact an experienced personal injury or medical malpractice lawyer at Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold & Mangan, LLC. We have ample experience dealing with personal injury and medical malpractice cases in New Jersey. Contact for your free consultation today!