Motor vehicle accidents, falls, and acts of violence are the leading causes of spinal cord injuries (SCI) in the United States. There are an estimated 282,000 people currently living with SCI and about 17,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. SCI can be either incomplete, where some function below the injury may remain possible, or complete, where all function is lost below the injury point. While there is no cure for SCI, treatment aims to maximize recovery through physical therapy, surgery, and other interventions, but lifetime costs can exceed $5 million.

1. SpinalCordInjury
Causes, Treatment, Legal Recourse

2. There are an estimated 282,000 people
currently living with spinal cord injury (SCI)
17,000 new cases of SCI are
diagnosed every year
There is no cure for SCI and recovery may
never be complete
Source: https://www.nscisc.uab.edu/Public/Facts%202016.pdf

3. Motor
Vehicle
Accidents
The leading cause of SCI in the United
States is motor vehicle accidents. These
include:
Car Accidents
Motorcycle Accidents
Truck Accidents
Boating accidents, bicycling accidents,
and even pedestrian accidents may result
in SCI as well.

4. Falls
Falls are the second leading cause of SCI.
These may occur at work, at a swimming
pool, in a retail establishment, or even at
home.

5. Acts of Violence
Violence is the third leading cause of SCI.
This may present as domestic violence, an
attack from a stranger, or any other form
of assault.

6. Sports &
Recereation
Accidents
The fourth leading cause of SCI is sport-
related injury. Even "safe" sports can
result in SCI if proper care is not taken
to avoid injury.

7. Types of SCI
Incomplete: When the spinal cord is
damaged but not severed, the injury is
classified as incomplete. Some
function below the injury may still be
possible
Complete: If the cord is severed, the
injury is classified as complete.
Function below the injury will be
eliminated with complete SCI.

8. Symptoms
Symptoms of SCI may include:
Loss of movement
Loss of sensation/tingling
Loss of bowel and bladder control
Loss of sexual function
Muscle spasms
Intense pain or stinging
Difficulties breathing
Paraplegia and quadriplegia
are also symptoms of SCI.

9. Prognosis
There is currently no cure for a complete
SCI. With physical therapy, surgery, and
other forms of medical intervention, an
incomplete injury may fully recover over
the course of several months or years.
Estimated costs for the first year of SCI
treatment range from
approximately $350,000 - $1,100,000.
Each subsequent year may bring
expenses of up to $185,000.
Source: https://www.nscisc.uab.edu/Public/Facts%202016.pdf

10. The lifetime cost of SCI can easily
exceed $5,000,000.
If your SCI was the result of
someone else's negligence, you are
entitled to seek compensation for
these expenses.
Call (423) 752-0544 to learn more.