Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Accidents

In a recent survey conducted by the US National Institute of Health (NIH), car accidents accounted for 38.5 percent of spinal cord injuries in the country followed by violent encounters involving knives and guns with 24.5 percent. The rest were caused by sports-related accidents, falls, and job-related accidents.

Since car accidents are usually caused by reckless drivers, victims have the right to file claims before a federal court, allowing them to receive compensation and recover economic damages such as loss of wages and hospital expenses and non-economic damages which include mental and emotional anguish.

In terms of economic damages, the amount will depend on the severity of the spinal cord injuries and the complications suffered by victims.

Common complications of spinal cord injuries:

• Immobility and physical paralysis – in severe cases of injuries, the victims are unable to move their body. With such condition, it will be impossible for them to do basic activities or work, thus they will also lose their earning capacity.
  If this happens, the at-fault individuals who cause the accident have the legal obligation to give damages that will cover the loss of wages of the victims.


• Loss of bladder and bowel control


• Urinary tract infection


• Kidney damage


• Pulmonary infection


• Deep vein thrombosis


• Impotency


• Muscle spasticity


• Paralysis of breathing muscles


• Deep vein thrombosis


• Skin breakdown


• Contractures (shortening or distortion of muscular or connective tissue)


• Loss of sensation

Because people with spinal cord injuries are at higher risk of infection and other serious condition, it is important that they receive special medical attention, which of course, covered by the claims and compensation provided by the people who have caused the accident.

• Pulmonary care to avoid infection


• Bladder care to avoid infections and damage to the kidney


• Regular immunization to prevent infections and diseases


• Regular checkup

Apart from reckless drivers whose behavior has caused the accidents and injuries, car companies and auto part makers can also be held liable for damages and injuries in case that the accident is caused by a defective car part.

Under the product liability law, companies should ensure the safety of consumers; failing to do so will make them liable to lawsuits and claims that will cover the damages and injuries caused by the defective products.

• Defective seatbelts. For the past decades, millions of cars were recalled due to defective seatbelts which can accidentally unlatch or have excessive harness which can result to head injury (the loose belt does not prevent occupants to hit their head with the car’s interior structure).


• Rollover-prone design. Few years ago, Ford Motor Co. has been charged with a class-action lawsuit with its rollover-prone SUV (Ford Explorer) which has been linked to hundreds of deaths in the US.