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Do You Know What Causes More Spinal Cord Accidents Than Anything Else?

Many people are shocked to learn what the most likely cause of a spinal cord accident is. No matter how a person injures their spinal cord, it’s bound to change their life. The extent of the damage depends on where the spinal cord was damaged. For some people, the result is complete paralysis, while others experience partial paralysis. Either way, a spinal cord injury affects not just the person who’s injured but their loved ones too. Read on to learn more about the most common cause of these accidents and what to do if you or a loved one has suffered one.

Car accidents used to be the most frequent way a person got a spinal cord injury

If you guessed that most spinal cord injuries came from car accidents, then you may be surprised to learn that this is no longer the case. It’s true that in previous years, car accidents were the primary cause of spinal cord injuries. That said, more recent statistics show that another type of accident is the culprit. There are many theories about the change in cause and many believe that improved safety features in vehicles is partially the cause.

Falls are now the most common way a person is injured in a vehicle

Reports have shown that people falling is now the top way that they get spinal cord injuries. This includes actually falling from a certain height or actually be injured by objects that are falling. The statistics show that about 35% of spinal cord injuries are caused by car accidents while about 41% are caused by falls. It’s much more likely that an older person will injure their spinal cord in a fall compared to a younger person falling.

How many people injure their spinal cord each year?

According to one study, nearly about 50 out of a million people between the ages of 18 and 64 are treated for spinal cord injuries each year. Compare that to 87.7 per million for people over the age of 64 and you can see that it’s much more likely to be an issue for the older generations. The sad truth is that the older a patient is, the more likely they are to die as a result of their spinal cord injury.

Many of these accidents could have prevented

In some cases, there’s nothing that could have been done to prevent the accident that caused the spinal cord injury – they were truly an accident. However, many of them could have been prevented. Whether it involved a car accident or a fall, negligence is often a part of these injuries.

If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury then it’s imperative you speak with a personal injury attorney. You may be eligible for compensation for the damages suffered. This may include the cost of past and future medical bills, the cost of ongoing physical therapy, the cost of necessary equipment in the home, and even pain and suffering. Contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 to get started with a free legal consultation.