Spinal cord injuries can be temporary or permanent, and are very serious medical issues in either case. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), there are around 12,000 new spinal cord injuries every year in the United States. Of those, 40% are caused by motor vehicle accidents. Many of victims are young men between the ages of 16 and 24. Motorcycle riders are also at higher risk.
The Effects of Permanent Disability from Spinal Cord Injuries While some spinal cord injuries only are only problematic for a few days or months, most victims suffer lasting, lifelong effects from damage to the spine. A permanent spinal cord injury can lead to partial or complete paralysis and can completely change the ability of a person to live, work and function normally. The NSCISC reports that nearly 60% of spinal cord injury victims are typically employed full or part-time at the time of their accidents. After a year of recovery, only 11% were ever able to return to work. Loss of employment, exorbitant medical bills and ongoing care costs are just some of the life altering changes that a spinal cord injury victim may expect.
Because the physical, emotional and financial repercussions of spinal cord injury can be so severe, it pays to have a lawyer on your side who can defend your case and demand that the insurance company pay you what you deserve. You may be offered a settlement amount immediately after your injury, but it takes a skilled personal injury lawyer to be able to negotiate the costs of your long-term needs and medical costs.
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