According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA), there are 250,000 to 400,000 people living with spinal cord injuries in the United States. Amazingly, 11,000 people each year will sustain an injury causing damage to their spinal cord.

Accidents are the most common cause of spinal cord injury. Motor vehicle accidents are at the top of the list, causing 47% of all spinal cord injuries in the U.S. The next main contributors to spinal cord injuries are falls, acts of violence, and recreational activities. Many of these situations are caused by another person’s negligence or misconduct.

A spinal cord injury can be devastating, emotionally, physically and monetarily to the victim as well as their surrounding family. The location of the injury will make a difference in the extent of your injuries. For example, when injured at the cervical (neck) level, a person will suffer from tetraplegia (quadriplegia). Depending on the level of the neck injured, the patient will lose certain functions. For example, Christopher Reeves (actor who played Superman), was injured at level C-3 (upper neck) after a horseback riding accident. He now has to use a mechanical ventilator to breathe and no function in his body below his head.

Spinal cord injuries can be very costly to the victim. Many people who suffer from spinal cord injuries need to have assistance for their injuries ranging from physical rehabilitation to complete in-home care for the remainder of their lives. According to the Spinal Cord Injury Information Network, first year expenses after injury range from $218,504 to $741,425, dependent upon the injury. A 25-year old person who suffers from a spinal cord injury is estimated to have $651,827 up to $2,924,513 lifetime costs on average, dependent on severity of injury.

In California, the law imposes a statute of limitations which sets a maximum amount of time that legal proceedings can occur after the date the incident. Each year at our law offices, people call me to ask me for help that have legitimate cases, only to find their statute of limitations has run out. It is one of the most difficult things for me to tell them I can’t help because they waited too long. If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident and is suffering from a spinal cord injury, please call me at the Law Offices of Moseley Collins. I have been a lawyer for 25 years and know the legal obstacles and challenges you face. Please don’t give up hope, today is a new day.