Spinal Cord Injury Statistics

Spinal cord injuries are far more common in the United States than most people think. Additionally, spinal cord injuries are particularly dangerous. The human spine is an incredibly complex and fragile structure made up of 33 bones which surround and protect the spinal cord. Spinal cord injuries include cervical spinal injuries, thoracic spine injuries, lumbar spine injuries, and sacral spine injuries. Spinal cord injuries are also further classified as complete or incomplete.

If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, it is essential that you reach out and seek legal help as soon as possible. North Carolina recognizes a three-year statute of limitations when it comes to filing a personal injury lawsuit. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, you only have three years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Time is of the essence. Contact our Charlotte personal injury lawsuit today to schedule your case evaluation.

The U.S. has a population of 327 million people. Recent spinal cord injury statistics have shown that 54 people per million people in the United States have suffered a spinal cord injury. Every year, 17,700 new spinal cord injury cases arise. New spinal cord injury cases do not include victims of spinal cord injuries who die as a result of the injury.

Between 247,000 and 385,000 people in the United States currently live with a spinal cord injury. The average age of those who experience a spinal cord injury is currently 43 years. This age has increased from 29 years in the 1970s. Nearly 80% of all spinal cord injury victims are male. The race and ethnicity breakdown of those with spinal cord injuries is as follows:

• 60% of victims are non-hispanic whites
• 9% of victims are non-hispanic blacks
• 8% of victims are people of hispanic origins
• 7% of victims are Asian
• 3% of victims are of another race or ethnicity
• .7% are Native American

Motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of spinal cord injuries. When a negligent or reckless driver causes an accident that results in a spinal cord injury, the injured party may have a legal right to bring a lawsuit. The statistics regarding the most common causes of spinal cord injuries are as follows:

• 3% are caused by motor vehicle accidents
• 6% are caused by falls
• 8% are caused by violence
• 2% are caused by sports injuries
• 6% are caused by medical or surgical complications
• 5% are caused by other reasons.

Most of the causes of spinal cord injuries due to violence are from gunshot wounds. Sports injuries are responsible for many spinal cord injuries, especially in teenagers and children. Participants can fall, slip, or dive, or become struck by another participant and suffer a spinal cord injury. The following types of sports and recreation events can cause spinal cord injuries:

• Gymnastics injuries
• Hockey injuries
• Football injuries
• Snowboarding and skiing injuries
• Motorcycle racing injuries
• Diving injuries
• Trampoline injuries

The following are the most common types of neurological damage in spinal cord injuries:

• 2% of injuries consist of incomplete tetraplegia
• 4% of injuries consist of incomplete paraplegia
• 2%of injuries consist of complete paraplegia
• 5% of injuries consist of complete tetraplegia

The length of stays for spinal cord injuries have decreased drastically since the 1970s. In the 1970s, spinal cord injury victims needed to stay at least 24 days. Now, victims of spinal cord injuries typically stay for 11 days in the hospital. When victims of spinal cord injuries need to go into rehabilitation, they typically stay 34 days, which is down from 98 days in the 1970s. Regardless of the length of stay, the cost of a hospital stay resulting from a spinal cord injury can be financially devastating.

Even though the length of stays has decreased over time, staying in a hospital or rehabilitation center can be incredibly expensive. When spinal cord injury victims do not have health insurance, they can become financially devastated from the cost of caring for a spinal cord injury. Filing a personal injury lawsuit is one way that injured parties can attempt to recover their significant medical costs. Contact the skilled personal injury lawyers at Arnold & Smith, PLLC as soon as possible to schedule your case evaluation.