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Spinal cord injuries occur in a wide variety of ways, but there are certain common causes that lead to these injuries more often than others. When we examine information available from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), we can see that the top five causes of these injuries since 2015 include vehicle accidents, falls, violent acts, sports injuries, and surgical or medical errors.
The NSCISC states that vehicle accidents have been responsible for 38.6% of all spinal cord injuries since 2015. The reality is that vehicle accidents are a leading cause of many major injuries due to the sheer nature of the forces involved. Vehicles operate at high speeds, and they weigh thousands of pounds, and any individual inside of these vehicles when an accident occurs risks sustaining a spinal cord injury. Additionally, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians all face significantly higher risks of spinal cord trauma in the event an accident occurs.
Falls are another major contributor to spinal cord injuries, responsible for approximately 32.2% of all spinal cord trauma since 2015. Falls can occur anywhere and in just about any situation. Many of these falls are slip-and-fall incidents that occur at stores, in homes, and on public property. However, falls from heights can also occur as a result of construction accident injuries, other workplace incidents, and throughout everyday life events.
Since 2015, approximately 14% of all spinal cord trauma has been the result of acts of violence. The most common act of violence responsible for spinal cord trauma includes gunshots. However, knife wounds can also contribute to spinal cord injuries, as can general assaults.
It is no surprise that sporting incidents are a contributor to many spinal cord injuries in this country. This is particularly true for contact sports and other events that could result in significant injuries. This includes, but is not limited to, football, cheerleading, rugby, lacrosse, basketball, soccer, and more.
Medical mistakes are responsible for a significant number of deaths each year in the United States. There are various ways that medical professionals can cause spinal cord trauma. This can include surgical mistakes, doctors failing to take proper spinal control when a trauma patient is admitted to the ER, improper manipulation of the spine, and more.
If you or somebody you care about has sustained a spinal cord injury caused by the careless or negligent actions of another individual or entity, you need to reach out to a skilled attorney as soon as possible. A spinal cord injury lawyer in Orange County will have the resources and experience necessary to fully investigate every aspect of your case and help you recover compensation for your losses. These injuries typically have long-lasting and significant effects on victims and their family members. Sometimes, the only way to move forward is to have enough compensation to pay for the lifestyle changes that these injuries demand on victims.