Spinal Cord Injuries & Paralysis
Researchers estimate that in the U.S., approximately 291,000 people are currently living with spinal cord injuries. Nearly 40 percent of those injured are paraplegic and the other 60 percent are quadriplegic. Every year, nearly 18,000 people suffer from a spinal cord injury and resulting paralysis.
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What is a Spinal Cord Injury?
The Mayo Clinic defines a spinal cord injury (SCI) as “damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal (cauda equina) — often causes permanent changes in strength, sensation and other body functions below the site of the injury.” The condition is so traumatic that it affects the person “mentally, emotionally and socially.”
The injury may be complete, meaning the person cannot feel anything or move any body part below the level of the injury. An incomplete injury means the person has some feeling and motor activity below the level of the injury. The person may be:
- Paraplegic. Which means the person has use of their upper body, including their arms, possible use of their trunk, but bladder and bowel functions are impaired.
- Quadriplegic. The person has no use, of arms, hands, legs or trunk and no bowel or bladder control.
Major Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
The most common causes of SCIs in the United States are:
- Motor vehicle accidents. These account for almost half of new SCIs each year.
- Falls. Falls cause about 31 percent of SCIs and are the main cause for those over the age of 65.
- Acts of violence. Approximately 13 percent of SCIs are due to violence such as from gunshot or knife wounds.
- Sports and recreation injuries. Primarily the SCI is the result of an impact such as diving head-first into shallow water.
- Alcohol. Alcohol use is a factor in about 1 out of every 4 SCIs.
- Medical, surgical, or other causes. These account for approximately 7.2 percent of all SCIs.
Collecting Damages for Spinal Cord Injury Damages
If the accident that caused the SCI was the result of another’s negligence, the injured person may file a claim for damages. The person with a SCI injury is entitled to:
- Life-long medical expenses. In addition to the usual medical expenses for an injured person, the medical expenses of the paralyzed patient requires consideration that the paralysis increases the chances for secondary conditions or debilitating diseases such as pressure sores, bladder infections, and blood lots, just to name a few.
- Cost of caregivers. There may be a lifelong need for caregivers depending on the whether the injury was complete or incomplete and whether the person is paraplegic or quadriplegic.
- Lost wages. The person may never be able to work again or may never be able to at least return to their former occupation.
- Rehabilitation costs. This includes physical and occupational rehabilitation, vocational retraining, and what other rehabilitation costs that are specifically relevant to the needs of the injured person.
- Pain and suffering. A person with a SCI often has chronic pain. Even the paralyzed limbs can cause phantom pain, meaning that even though there is medically no sensory feeling in the limbs, the limbs send messages of pain to the patient’s brain.
- Loss of enjoyment of life. A person who formerly water and snow skied, went mountain hiking, biking, tennis playing, or who engaged in any pleasurable activities that he or she can no longer participate in, deserves compensation for the loss of enjoyment of life.
