Atlanta Spinal Cord Injuries Lawyer
An estimated 12,000 people suffer debilitating spinal cord injuries each year in the United States and over 250,000 Americans are currently living with spinal cord injuries.
Our Atlanta, Georgia spinal cord injury lawyer knows that a severe spinal cord injury usually results in permanent disability or paralysis. Paralysis that affects the arms, as well as the legs, is called quadriplegia or tetraplegia. Paralysis that affects only the lower body is referred to as paraplegia.
While spinal cord injuries are usually caused by trauma, the disease may also cause damage to the spinal cord resulting in paralysis. The most common causes of spinal cord injury (“SCI”) in the U.S. are:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Violent Crime
- Falls
- Sports & Recreation Accidents
- Disease
Spinal Injury Statistics
Almost half of all SCIs are the result of motor vehicle accidents including automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, and truck accidents. Falls account for approximately 22% of all spinal cord injuries. Violent crime, usually involving gun shot or knife (stab) wounds, accounts for approximately 15%.
Approximately 8% of all spinal cord injuries result from contact sports and diving into shallow water. A traumatic spinal cord injury may result from a sudden impact to the spine that causes one or more of the vertebrae to become fractured, dislocated, crushed, or compressed.
It may also stem from a gunshot or stab wound that cuts the spinal cord. Additional damage to the spinal cord usually occurs within the first few days after the initial injury as a result of the cord becoming compressed by bleeding, swelling, inflammation, or fluid accumulation.
Contact an Experienced Attorney
Spinal cord injuries take an extraordinary toll on both the injured person and his or her family.
The impact of these catastrophic injuries is physical, psychological, and financial. Fortunately, there are a number of organizations, associations, and facilities available to provide essential support for spinal cord injury patients and their families.
If you or someone you know has suffered a spinal cord injury, contact an Atlanta, Georgia spinal cord injury lawyer at Ponton Law at 404-902-3154 to speak with an attorney today.