San Diego, CA- Car crashes typically involve a lot of force that can be very damaging to the human body. Far too many car accident victims suffer devastating injuries that are life-changing including a spinal cord injury.
Anatomy of a Spinal Cord Injury
The National Institutes of Health says that a spinal cord injury is the result of a traumatic blow to the spine that can cause “bone fragments, disc material, or ligaments bruise or tear into spinal cord tissue.” Sometimes the impact of a crash can severe a vehicle occupant’s spine resulting in full or partial paralysis. The AANS notes that the close to the neck a spinal cord injury is, the greater chance an accident victim has of becoming paralyzed.
Types of Permanent Spinal Cord Injuries include:
Paraplegia- This results from a spinal cord injury in the thoracic or lumbar regions leaving a victim unable to control their legs or lower regions of their body.
Tetraplegia- This is also known as quadriplegia. It is a spinal cord injury that occurs in the neck region and results in a victim’s inability to control all four limbs.
Complete Spinal Cord Injury- A victim who suffers a complete spinal cord injury experiences a complete loss of motor control or sense below the region
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury- An incomplete spinal cord injury occurs when a victim has motor control and sensations in half of their body.
Leading Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
The American Associates of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) estimates that 450,000 Americans live with a spinal cord injury each year. What are the leading causes of spinal cord injuries?
Traffic accidents cause 39.08% of spinal cord injuries each year in the U.S. Below is a list of vehicle type and percentage of spinal cord injuries:
Cars, buses, SUVs, trucks- 26.91 percent
Motorcycles- 6.8 percent
Bicycles-2.78 percent
ATVs- 1.37 percent
Other leading causes of spinal cord injuries include:
Falls- 29.54 percent
Acts of violence- 14.41%
Contact an Accident Attorney in San Diego
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that an annual cost of spinal cord injuries is an approximate $9.7 billion. An individual who suffers a spinal injury can face thousands, maybe millions in medical expenses and other expenses. In the worst cases, spinal cord injury victims are never able to care for themselves or earn a living for the rest of their lives.
If a negligent driver caused your spinal injury, you need to contact an accident lawyer in San Diego and arrange a case evaluation. We recommend you contact the office of Jeffrey E. Estes & Associates to set up a consultation. When you enlist one of their personal injury attorneys, your case will get the personal attention it deserves. You can reach their office by calling 619-233-8021.
Source:
How Common Are Spinal Cord Injuries in Traffic Accidents?
