Most Orange County residents probably know that spinal cord injuries are devastating both for the victim and the victim’s loved ones.
In all but the rarest cases, a spinal cord injury will leave a person with some permanent mobility problems. Many cases end with a person being paralyzed.
The most severe injuries will leave a person completely paralyzed from the neck down and requiring help with even the most basic tasks.
The sad thing is that most spinal cord injuries probably result from preventable accidents.
For example, according to the Mayo Clinic, almost half of all new spinal cord injuries happen in motor vehicle accidents.
Granted, this statistic does not identify who is responsible for these accidents. Still, the point is that errors in driving, such as speeding, distracted driving, and drunk or drugged driving, cause many spinal cord injuries.
A person can help prevent catastrophic spinal cord injuries simply by driving carefully.
Falls are also a common cause of spinal cord injuries
Interestingly, falls from any height are also a common cause of spinal cord injuries. In fact, among seniors, falling is the most common cause of traumatic spinal cord damage.
While falls do happen by accident, many times, they are just as preventable as car accidents. Too often, for example, people of all ages fall while visiting a business or even the home of another person and encounter a wet or uneven floor or other hazardous condition.
On a related point, falling can also happen because of unsafe conditions at a worksite.
Shootings and other violence, as well as injuries in connection with sports and recreation, are also common causes of spinal cord injuries. Medical complications can also cause spinal cord damage.