A spinal cord injury is any type of injury that damages the spinal cord, which is the bundle of nerves that travels inside the spine from the brain down the back. Even a relatively mild spinal cord injury can cause permanent pain, trouble with movement or coordination, or other disabilities. In recent years, researchers have begun to understand more about these devastating injuries, but they still know little about how to cure them.
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), Americans suffer about 12,000 new spinal cord injuries each year. An additional unknown number of spinal cord injury sufferers lose their lives due to the injury, often before rescue workers can respond to the scene of their accident. Car accidents cause about 40 percent of new spinal cord injuries each year, and slip and fall accidents account for about 28 percent.
The NSCISC estimates that only 0.9 percent of spinal cord injury sufferers actually make a complete recovery. For the rest, the extent of recovery and the disabilities they must still live with depend on a number of factors, including where the damage occurred in the spinal cord and how bad it was. Many severe spinal cord injuries result in partial or total paralysis. These patients often need life-long care.
At Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S., our dedicated Seattle personal injury lawyers focus on fighting for the compensation our clients need to heal as fully as possible and to continue living their lives after an accident. If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury, please don’t hesitate to call us at (888) 228-3860 to learn more about your legal rights and options. The call is free and completely confidential.
