Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys are concerned with the number of spinal cord injuries (SCI) experienced by Floridians who are involved in various accidents. In fact, SCI's are very serious personal injuries and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 46% of SCI's are caused in an automobile accident, 22% from falls, 16% from an act of violence, and 12% from sporting related accidents. SCI's are the type of injuries which result from damage to the spinal column. The spinal cord, which is the central bundle of the nerves, extends from the brain and branching peripherally and is the main nerve that is responsible for transmitting signals from the brain into the rest of the body. Further, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that when blunt trauma or force is applied to the spine this can cause the vertebrae to fracture or dislocate. As a result of this damage, the axons become destroyed and nerve cells become unable to transmit signals between the brain and the rest of the body. Also,according to CDC data, a SCI is a contributing factor to death and there are approximately 200,000 people in the United States living with this form of injury.
The severity of a spinal cord injury depends on whether or not it is completed. The NIH explains that when the injury is incomplete, the transmission of messages from the brain into the rest of the body is not completely lost, and a person may be able to retain some sensory or motor functioning below the injury. On the contrary, when the injury is complete, an accident sufferer can experience a total lack of sensory and motor functioning below the level of injury. However, a SCI survivor is most likely to suffer from a variety of medical complications which will require costly medical treatment.
Respiratory problems are often an indication of the severity of the injury, and according to the NIH, approximately one-third of those who sustain a SCI neck related injury experience breathing difficulties and require respiratory support. Further, because of the seriousness of the injury, numerous people will require extensive rehabilitative and counseling sessions to help them with skill building and for emotional support. The CDC reports that the average annual medical cost could be in the range of $15,000 - $30,000 per year; and the estimated lifetime cost is $500,000 - more than $3 million per year, depending upon the severity. Also, it is a possibility that your injury will require you to use a wheelchair in order to remain mobile.
If you or a loved one have suffered a SCI, you should contact a Fort Lauderdale accident injury attorney immediately to discuss your specific case, since each SCI injury is unique. By consulting with an attorney about your circumstances, it is possible that you may have a legal claim and be entitle to damages. An attorney can give you the advice and answer any questions which you or your family member may have regarding these types of injury accidents.
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I appreciate the awareness this article brings to the severity of the accident-related SCI problem in the US. I had no idea that there are over 200,000 cases in our great country.
ReplyDeleteThe more people understand that the extent to which these injuries effect lives the more proactive they'll be about preventing them and taking legal action where appropriate to serve justice.
Indeed, the costs of spinal cord injury treatment are enough to bankrupt the average family. These injuries are permanent and permanently life changing.
ReplyDelete