Spinal Cord Injury in an Automobile Crash - St. Louis Attorney

The spinal cord is the bundle of nerves that runs down the middle of your spine, and any injury to it can have devastating consequences. The spinal cord carries signals from the brain to the body and back. An injury to the spinal cord can disrupt these signals either partially or completely. Spinal cord injuries can be caused by a trauma to the back that fractures or shifts the vertebrae. This shifting of vertebrae puts pressure on the spinal cord. If the impact is serious enough, it can sever the spinal cord completely. The broken pieces of the vertebrae can also injure the spinal cord.

Our St. Louis auto accident lawyers explain that a blow or trauma to the body can be caused by something hitting the spine, blunt force trauma or even by the violent shaking of the body. Debris, such as shrapnel from an explosion can penetrate the body and sever the spinal cord.

According to available estimates, the annual incidence of spinal cord injuries, excluding the fatalities that occur at the accident scene, stands at nearly 40 cases per one million in the United States. In other words, 12,000 new cases of spinal cord injuries are reported each year.

Types of spinal cord injuries

Spinal cord injuries can be categorized into two types based on the level of severity. A complete spinal cord injury is one in which the brain can no longer send signals below the level of the injury resulting in paralysis. In an incomplete spinal cord injury, the brain can send some signals across the injured cord, and the injured person can have some movement below the injury site.

Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

Statistics show that more men suffer from spinal cord injuries compared to women. In fact, more than 80 percent of all spinal cord injury victims are men, and car accidents are the most common cause of these injuries. Other common causes include falls, violence, and sporting injuries. Here is a list of common causes of spinal injuries:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Workplace falls
• Hospital and nursing home falls
• Motorcycle accidents
• Bus accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Pedestrians getting hit by cars

Cost of spinal cord injuries

Regardless of the cause, spinal cord injuries are expensive. The lifetime cost of care and living expenses for the injury victim depends on how severe the injury is. Victims often require long term medical care. A person who has suffered a spinal cord injury may also need to make some changes to their home to accommodate their changed lifestyle. Many victims also need medical equipment, respiratory therapy, pain and spasm management, and other devices to assist them with day to day living.

It is estimated the first year following a severe spinal cord injury can cost more than a million dollars and lifetime costs can exceed several million dollars.

If you have sustained a spinal cord injury as a result of another person’s negligence, you should speak with an experienced attorney to learn more about your legal rights. Give us a call today at (314) 361-4242 for a free case evaluation.