Securing Financial Compensation After a Spinal Cord Injury

 Posted on April 16, 2019 in Personal Injury

Throughout the United States, there are approximately 288,000 people living with some type of permanent spinal cord injury. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), an average of 17,700 spinal cord injuries occur each year in the U.S. In many of these cases, victims suffer from tetraplegia or paraplegia. 

Complete and Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries 

Spinal cord injuries come in two types of injury: a complete spinal cord injury, and an incomplete spinal injury. An incomplete spinal injury is an injury to the spine that results in partial damage to the spinal cord. Whether a person suffers a change in mobility depends on the extent of the injury and where the spine was injured. A complete spinal injury is an injury that ultimately results in permanent damage to the affected area. In many of these cases, victims suffer from tetraplegia or paraplegia.

Car Accidents and Spinal Cord Injuries

According to the NSCISC, the vast majority of spinal cord injuries occur in motor vehicle collisions. Around 38 percent of all spinal injuries are caused by car accidents. Unfortunately, serious damage to the spine can occur in even minor rear-end collisions. While the most common spine-related injury in car accidents is whiplash, significant spinal damage occurs often due to the victim’s inability to brace for the collision. 

Spinal Injuries in the Workplace

While car accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, many of the most serious injuries to the spine occur at the workplace. Here in the state of Colorado, three of our leading industries are construction, oil and gas, and commercial trucking, all of which come with significant dangers to employees. 

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), over 20 percent of all workers fatally injured throughout 2017 were construction workers. The most common cause of significant injury to construction workers is falling. Since 2015, falls are the second-leading cause of spinal cord injury. Unfortunately, even in cases of life-changing injury, many companies will fight against having to pay their employees injury compensation. 

Contact a Fort Collins Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer 

When a person suffers a spinal cord injury, it can be devastating. Many lose their ability to work. Because of this, the financial toll of a spinal injury can threaten a family’s livelihood. The average spinal cord injury costs a family an average of $74,000 in medical expenses and lost wages, so it is important to secure injury compensation. At Hoggatt Law Office P.C., we are dedicated to ensuring our clients receive the financial award they need to continue to live a high quality of life. To schedule a complimentary consultation with a Larimer County personal injury attorney, call us today at 970-225-2190. 

Sources:

https://www.nscisc.uab.edu/Public/Facts%20and%20Figures%20-%202018.pdf

https://www.shepherd.org/patient-programs/spinal-cord-injury/about/levels-and-types

https://www.osha.gov/oshstats/commonstats.html