Understanding Colorado Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most serious types of injuries, along with traumatic brain injury (TBI). According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (SCISC), about 12,000 people suffer a first-time spinal cord injury in the United States each year. About 265,000 U.S. residents currently live with spinal cord injuries.

Understanding Colorado Spinal Cord InjuriesSpinal cord injuries are typically classified into one of two categories: complete and incomplete. A “complete” injury severs the spinal cord, ending all communication between the brain and any body area below the point where the cord was severed. Complete spinal cord injuries typically result in paralysis of one or more limbs and/or loss of function in one or more major organs.

An “incomplete” spinal cord injury damages the spinal cord, but does not completely sever it. A person with an incomplete injury may experience total or partial paralysis, motor function problems, and impaired functioning of organs below the injury site. In both complete and incomplete injuries, damage to the body and loss of functions may be permanent.

Car accidents cause about 40 percent of spinal cord injuries in the United States each year. Falls, including accidental falls, account for another 27.9 percent. Assorted other events, like sports injuries and intentional violent attacks, are also common spinal cord injury causes.

If you’ve been injured in an accident, an experienced Colorado Springs personal injury lawyer at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. can help you get the compensation you need. Call us today at (719) 475-2555 for a free, confidential telephone consultation.