Spinal Cord (Back) Injury
Serving Buffalo, New York
The Christopher Reeve foundation estimates that as many as 400,000 Americans are living with spinal cord injuries. When these injuries take place, many victims must learn to live with disabilities, enormous medical bills and the pain and suffering associated with around-the-clock assisted living. If you or a loved one has had a spinal cord injury as the result of someone else’s negligence, you should contact the highly experienced spinal cord attorneys at our Buffalo, New York office today.
Demographics of Spinal Cord Injuries
While it is possible for anyone to suffer a spinal cord injury, the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) at the University of Alabama has done research to prove that spinal cord injuries do not affect each demographic group equally.
Here’s a summary of the NSCISC’s demographic findings related to spinal cord injuries since the year 2000:
- Almost 80% of new spinal cord injury patients are male
- Nearly 50% of those injured are married at the time of injury
- The average age one suffers a spinal cord injury is 37.6 years
- Approximately 60% of new spinal cord injures happen to Caucasians, 12.6% to Hispanics and 22% to African Americans
Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
- 47.5% of spinal cord injuries are the result of vehicle crashes
- 8.9% of them are due to sports
- 22.9% are the result of falls
- 13.8% happen because of violent acts
- 6.8% happen due to other causes
Cost of Spinal Cord Injuries
The cost of living with a spinal cord injury can be extremely high. About 43% of those who have these injuries are considered paraplegic and about 57% are considered quadriplegic. This means that they will need medical and living assistance throughout their lives.
The estimated lifetime costs of spinal cord injuries range according to severity of injury and the age the injury took place. On the low end (for an individual who loses motor function due to a spinal cord injury at 50 years old), the lifetime cost is about $450,000. The high-end costs (for a 25-year-old who suffers high quadriplegia due to a spinal cord injury) are close to $3 million.
Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuits
If a spinal cord injury takes place as the result of someone else’s negligence, it is absolutely necessary for the victim to seek legal representation. Not only can this help cover medical expenses, but it may also help ensure that the guilty party does not harm anyone else in the future.
When negligence can be proven in court, the victim can sue for:
- Current and future medical bills
- Current and future lost wages
- Pain and suffering
If you are a resident or tourist of Niagara or Buffalo, New York and believe that your spinal cord injury was caused by another's negligence, contact us today to schedule a free consultation. Our passionate personal injury lawyers have the dedication and experience necessary to hold the guilty party accountable and get you any restitution you and your family are entitled to.
We don’t charge legal fees unless your case is won or settled out of court, so don’t delay in contacting us today.
1220 Liberty Building | 424 Main St. | Buffalo, NY 14202 | (716) 854-0700
