Spine injuries have devastating implications on the life of victims. For instance, they cause permanent disabilities and chronic pain. Unfortunately, spine injuries are not uncommon. The losses the victims incur will be severe. If it happens to you or your loved one, file a spinal cord injury claim.
Understanding what causes spine injuries will help you become cautious and prevent them from happening. This article will discuss several accidents that can result in spine injuries. Just keep reading below:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Road accidents are the leading cause of death for all age groups, especially younger people. According to the National Spinal Center (NSCISC) report, vehicle crashes are the leading cause of spine injury accounting for 39.3% of all causes. Motor vehicle accidents occur for multiple reasons, including driver errors, poor road conditions, and weather. The resulting impact from a motor vehicle collision causes the spine to twist, bend or compress, causing fractures and other critical spine injuries.
Therefore, drivers should wear protective gear like helmets and seatbelts, follow traffic laws, and avoid distractions when on the road to prevent motor vehicle accidents.
Sport Injuries
Another common cause of spine injuries is sports accidents. This is more for athletes participating in high-impact sports. These accidents can happen after falling, colliding with other players, or repetitive stress of a particular movement. Athletes participating in football, wrestling, gymnastics, and hockey will likely sustain spine injuries.
For example, football players risk spinal injuries because of the sport’s high-impact nature. Hard tackles and collisions often lead to spinal fractures and permanent disability. Overall, athletes must adequately train, wear safety gear, and, more importantly, observe best practices of the sport to minimize the risks of a spine injury.
Falls
Among the elderly population, falls are a common cause of spine injuries. A fall can happen due to various reasons. For instance, one could trip or slide and fall after losing balance. Equally, falling from a ladder or a building top can cause devastating spine injuries to the unfortunate victim.
Additionally, recreational activities such as horse riding or even skiing are likely to cause spine injuries in case of a fall. Generally, falls can occur in multiple situations. Therefore, it is essential to take necessary precautions, like putting on appropriate footwear to protect yourself from falls that can be fatal.
Violence
Violence is also known to cause spinal injuries. For instance, gun wounds can cause severe damage to the spinal cord and lead to permanent disability for the victim. Moreover, the injury's severity depends on the gun wound's location.
Additionally, domestic violence can also lead to spine injuries. Physical abuse can cause spinal fractures and chronic pain. Violence can occur in multiple situations; therefore, it is advisable to avoid dangerous areas and seek police help in case of domestic violence to prevent violence-based spinal injuries.
In summation, spine injuries have life-altering implications for the victims and their immediate families. As discussed in the article, the common causes of spine injuries are motor vehicle accidents, sports, falls, and violence. While avoiding some of these courses is possible by taking necessary precautions like being cautious, some are unavoidable. Thus, you should wear protective gear, follow traffic rules, train your body correctly, and avoid dangerous areas to minimize the risks of a spine injury.
In case of an unfortunate event leading to a spine injury, it is essential to file a spine injury claim and seek medical care and legal representation from a spinal cord injury attorney. It is only by taking the necessary precautions you can minimize the immense implications of spine injuries on yourself or a family member.