Know the Statistics Behind Spinal Cord Injury

Every year thousands of Americans experience a spinal cord injury. These injuries are devastating and can cause both physical and emotional distress. And the cost of care for a spinal cord related injury is very expensive. Approximately 12,000 new cases of spinal cord injury occur each year, not including those who die due to a spinal cord related injury.

Here is a glimpse at some statistics:

• Approximately 259,000 people in the United States live with a spinal cord injury.
• The average age one gets injured is 40 years old.
• The average age has continued to increase steadily since the 1970s.
• Most spinal cord injuries occur in males – 80.9% partially because males are more likely to engage in more risky behavior.
• The leading cause of death from a spinal cord injury is pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, and septicemia.

At any time a spinal cord injury can occur. It can happen from a motor vehicle accident, a serious fall on a construction site, playing sports, during a high-risk activity, or a fall in a nursing home.

Ben Damon suffered paralysis when he was a passenger in a friend’s car. As they began traveling to Portland Maine a moose struck the vehicle, causing the roof to compress by over a foot. With Ben’s height of 6-foot-6 and the amount the car was compressed, he ended up breaking parts of his vertebra resulting in paralysis.

Ben stated, “I am very, very lucky to be where I am. This is not something that anyone can prepare for, and it could happen to anyone. But I am very, very fortunate and grateful to have my family and friends.”

Here are more stories like Ben Damon.

Spinal cord injuries are something no one is prepared for and can occur at random. Minimize your chances of suffering a serious injury by keeping safety at the forefront of everything you do.

Since 2005 the top causes of spinal cord injury include:

• Motor vehicle accidents – 42.1%
• Falls – 26.7%
• Violence – 15.1%
• Sports Incidents – 7.6%
• Other – 8.6%

Over time the percentage of both violence and sports-related injuries has declined. There is still an increase in numbers due to motor vehicle accidents and falls. One needs to always be cautious of their surroundings both inside and outside of a vehicle. Let’s make 2017 a year that we see a decrease throughout all causes of spinal cord injuries.

If you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury in any type of accident due to negligence, call Graves McLain right away at 918-359-6600. When you call one of our experienced Tulsa Spinal Cord Injury attorneys, we will speak with you for FREE and determine the best course of action.

We review every detail of your situation at no cost to you and fight hard to protect your rights. Trust our team, we are here to help.

Graves McLain, Serious Lawyers for Serious Injuries