Personal Injury

What are the Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Austin?

Spinal cord injuries are some of the most devastating injuries a person can sustain. Known as a “catastrophic” injury, damage to the spinal cord requires immediate medical treatment, long-term care, and often leaves victims with permanent disabilities that alter their lives. Because the effects of a spinal injury can be so dramatic and costly in many ways, it is critical for victims and their families to know their rights if their spine was damaged.

In order to understand your legal rights, you first must identify whether someone else was responsible for the injury. The following are some common causes of spinal cord injuries that lead to legal claims and compensation for injury victims.

Traffic Accident Spine Injury

Traffic accidents are a leading cause of spinal injuries. When an impact occurs involving a motor vehicle, it can often result in direct trauma to the spine and may injure the spinal cord. Many types of traffic crashes can cause this type of severe injury, including:

• Car accidents
• Commercial truck accidents
• Bus accidents
• Van accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents

Motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians have a high risk of spinal trauma, as they have nothing to protect them from an impact with a car or truck. Often, negligent drivers are to blame for injuries in traffic accidents, though crashes can occur for other reasons, as well.

Back Injury due to Falls

When you fall from a high place, it is common to hit your back or neck when you land, though falls on level ground can also result in spinal damage. The following types of fall accidents commonly result in spinal injuries:

• Falling from ladders
• Scaffolding accidents or collapses
• Falling down the stairs
• Falling from a window or balcony
• Slips, trips, and falls

The party responsible for the accident will depend on different factors, including where your fall occurred and whether a hazard caused the fall. Falls can occur at work, home, while shopping, and many other locations, so different businesses or property owners may be liable.

Sports injuries resulting in Back Pain

Many athletes who play contact sports suffer spinal injuries. Such sports include football, soccer, hockey, and more. Sports come with the inherent risks of injuries, such as sprains, soft tissue tears, or fractures. However, sometimes, a spinal injury may happen during a sport because of another party’s negligence. Some reasons for sports-related liability for spinal cord injuries include:

• Not providing adequate safety equipment
• Not enforcing safety rules
• Not providing necessary emergency medical attention 
• Allowing or convincing a player to keep playing after an injury
• Hazardous facilities

The above are only some of the many possible causes of spinal cord injuries. If you or a family member suffered this type of devastating injury, you should discuss your options for compensation with an experienced Austin spinal cord injury law firm.

Discuss Your Rights with an Austin Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Today

The legal team at Terry & Kelly Attorneys fights for the rights of clients with severe and life-changing injuries. If you were in an accident and believe someone else may be responsible, do not hesitate to call (512)-910-2000 or contact us online for a free case evaluation today.