Spinal cord injuries are potentially some of the most devastating that can be suffered by people of all ages, sometimes leading to permanent disabilities. In the most tragic cases, they can lead directly to death.
Considering the severity of these injuries, it’s important to recognize just how common they are. There are around 17,000 new spinal cord injuries in the United States every year. That means that for every 1,000,000 people, 54 are going to be injured. The United States has a population that is around 314 million.
It is important to note that these numbers from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center only take into account those who live through the initial event. This means that spinal injuries are even more common than the statistics suggest since some people pass away from their SCIs — and related injuries — at the scene.
One curious thing about these injuries is that the high-risk group keeps getting older. In the 1970s, the average age when the incident took place was 29 years old. In 2016, the average age has moved up to 42.
It’s also worth noting that men are at significantly higher risk than women. Right now, about 80 percent of all of the new cases involve men.
If you’ve been injured, regardless of your age or gender, you may be able to seek compensation if someone else’s negligence caused the injury. It’s especially important to know whether or not you have a case if you’re looking at permanent disabilities and the need for lifelong care.
If you have any questions about the process, our website can be very helpful in providing quality information.