Spinal Cord Injuries

Overview of Spinal Cord Injuries

Unlike many other injuries, trauma to the spine can be a long term and life changing injury. Injuries to the vertebrae can cause swelling, pain and in the back and elsewhere or, in severe instances, short term or even long term paralysis.
Spinal cord injuries may change the way a person’s body functions. Even surgery and therapy are often not effective and life-long changes can occur in an instant. The spine and back are so integral to everything we do that any accident or injury can cause spinal trauma. Treating these types of injuries requires intensive medical care and can be prohibitively expensive.

Spinal Cord Injury Statistics

Over the past ten years, spinal cord injuries have increased among those aged 16-30. The rate of such injuries is higher for males than females. About 15,000 men in this age group suffer spinal injuries each year. In severe instances, just over half of the victims in this group become paraplegics and the rest quadriplegic.

Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

A spinal cord injury can be caused by many things. An injury is typically caused by fast and violent impacts to the back causing vertebrae to crack or rupture. Motor vehicle accidents, as an example, are a frequent cause of these injuries. Negligence while driving, such as texting and driving is why nearly forty percent of accidents causing spinal cord damage are caused by motor vehicle collisions.
Another frequent cause of spinal injuries to those who are younger is contact sports. Colliding with others such as in football or violent falls can cause severe harm to the back. We think we are indestructible when we are young and yet we are all fragile. One wrong impact from a sports or recreational accident can not only be painful, but potentially life-altering.
For the elderly, on the other hand, falling is the most common cause of spinal cord injuries. Combining the frailty of old age with the loss of balance and coordination that can occur makes these slips and falls more common and more harmful. In fact, some of these falls cause injuries so severe that they cause the death of a senior citizen or severe injuries.

Compensation for Spinal Cord Injuries in New Jersey

Tort laws allow an injured party to seek damages when these injuries are caused intentionally or by the negligence of others. Obviously, when someone is injured in a car accident, other drivers may be held responsible. However, negligence can happen with other accidents too. If a party is negligent a victim may seek damages for medical bills, anticipated medical bills, the cost of prescriptions, therapy, lost wages, reduced ability to earn wages and any other suffering and pain.

Contact an Edison Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Spinal Cord Injury Case in New Jersey

Did you or a loved one sustain serious spinal cord injuries due to the negligence of another? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party, or its insurance company, to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Lombardi & Lombardi, PA represent clients with spinal cord injuries in Newark, Elizabeth, Edison, Woodbridge, Toms River, Brick and throughout New Jersey. Call 732-564-7165 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have offices conveniently located at 1862 Oak Tree Road, Edison, NJ 08820 and in Brick, Freehold and Point Pleasant.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.