Spinal cord injuries are some of the worst imaginable. The spinal cord plays a critical role in movement and sensation, transmitting signals from the brain to the extremities. Unsurprisingly, when the spinal cord is injured victims see their world turned upside-down.
At Dolan Dobrinsky Rosenblum Bluestein, we represent the best interests of spinal cord victims. As part of our practice, we can obtain a favorable settlement that fully compensates you for your past, present, and future medical care, as well as for your lost wages.
Why Car Accidents are So Damaging
The spinal cord is well protected by bony vertebrae that encase the spinal column. However, any traumatic blow can shatter or fracture vertebrae and cause damage to the spinal cord. This damage can result in a “complete” injury, meaning that the victim completely loses function below the point of injury. Conversely, with an incomplete injury, the victim loses only some functioning.
Unsurprisingly, car accidents are the leading cause of injury to this part of the body, accounting for roughly 47% of all cases. Slip and falls, the second cause, account for 21% of injuries.
During a collision, the force generated is sufficient to twist, bend, and break the back, leading to fractured vertebrae. If the victim was riding a bicycle or a motorcycle, they could suffer a direct hit from the vehicle, sustaining even more damage. Pedestrians likewise can suffer spinal cord injuries from the initial contact with the vehicle or from secondary contact when they are thrown against a building, fire hydrant, or sidewalk.
Other Spinal Cord Injury Statistics
Spinal cord injuries come in different shapes and sizes. For example, you might lose mobility or only sensation (or both). Depending on where the spinal cord was damaged, you might experience impairment in only certain parts of the body while maintaining full mobility and sensation in others.
Here are some more interesting statistics:
- About 12,500 new spinal cord injuries develop each year.
- Incomplete injuries make up around 60% of all spinal cord injuries, while complete make up 40%.
- Around half of all spinal cord injuries strike people ages 16-30. However, the average age is 42.
- More white people suffer spinal cord injuries than any other race. But African Americans have a much higher rate of spinal cord injury, making up almost a quarter of those injured while being only 13% of the population.
- The average hospital stay for a spinal cord injury is 11 days, which is lower than it has been in the past.
Speak with a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Miami
After a spinal cord injury, it is normal to fear how you will financially pay all of your medical expenses and provide for your family. Spinal cord injuries can cost millions of dollars to treat initially, and continuing costs can easily exceed $100,000 a year. Few people have that kind of money lying around.
The Miami spinal cord injury lawyers at Dolan Dobrinsky Rosenblum Bluestein LLP are happy to meet with you and discuss different avenues for receiving compensation. Speak to us today by calling 305-371-2692.