Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Maryland
No matter how careful someone is in life, accidents can still happen, including devastating injuries to the spine. There are many causes of spinal cord injuries in Maryland which can occur suddenly, and without warning.
While these injuries can result from a simple mistake, there are many instances where someone else’s negligence was a key factor. If that is the case, you may want to consider seeking the assistance of a qualified spinal cord injury attorney who could be your legal advocate in searching for financial relief.
Trauma-Related Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
Trauma is one of the more common ways a spinal cord injury can happen, and there are multiple causes to consider. Among the most frequent causes that lawyers encounter in spinal injury cases are:
- Childbirth: An infant can receive an injury to the neck during the delivery process.
- Motor vehicle accident: The most common cause of paralysis is a motor vehicle accident. They account for approximately 38 percent of trauma-related spinal cord injuries.
- Slips and falls: Slips in the shower, falls at industrial sites, and other similar situations account for 30 percent of spinal cord injuries. Falls are one of the most frequent sources of spine damage for people over age 65.
- Sports injury: For children, this is one of the most common causes. Football, gymnastics, hockey, diving, and surfing are some of the sports that put them at risk of serious injury. Sports cause nine percent of spinal cord injuries.
- Violent acts: Unfortunately, violence accounts for 13 percent of spinal cord injuries. Violent acts include gunshots and stab wounds.
- Medical or surgical error: About five percent of spine damage cases are caused by medical malpractice.
Non-Trauma Related Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
There are a number of common non-trauma causes of spinal cord injuries to be aware of, primarily related to disease. These include, but are not limited to:
- Infection/abscess in the spinal cord: Bacterial or viral infection like meningitis can cause paralysis.
- Transverse Myelitis: A sudden inflammation of the spinal cord.
- Arthritic/degenerative discs: Discs in the back can become arthritic, degenerate, and cause paralysis as a person gets older. Osteoporosis can produce the same effect as well.
- Cancer: Spinal tumors can spread, or can be removed, which causes injury.
- Spinal stenosis: This results from a narrowing of the spinal canal, sometimes caused by age.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS): When the myelin surrounding the nerves in the spinal cord is attacked by the body’s immune system.
- Polio: While not as common as it used to be, this condition can still occur in individuals who have not been vaccinated.
Speak to an Attorney About the Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Maryland
Nobody ever plans to have a major spine injury. The causes of these injuries can vary wildly as well, with trauma causing many of them. Non-trauma-related causes can also happen to a person of any age. Your transition to a new lifestyle after suffering this catastrophic injury may be difficult, but you do not have to take it on alone.
If you are suffering from spine damage due to negligence, you should consider contacting a local lawyer right away. They could help you determine the cause of your spinal cord injuries in Maryland and possibly recover compensation for you.
