Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog
After a severe 2009 single-car accident in Newton, a 20-year-old from Waltham knew her life may never be the same. After her accident, the young woman had no feeling in the lower half of her body, according to Wicked Local Waltham. With statistics against her, she’s determined to prevail. She says she will walk again!
The tragic accident happened when her boyfriend drove head on into a tree next to the Charles River. Just a year prior, a 26-year-old woman was killed in a car accident in the same area when her vehicle went into the water. In the most recent crash, the passenger side of the vehicle, where the now-paralyzed woman was sitting, sustained most of the damage from the accident into the tree. After the crash, her spinal cord was injured. That was nearly 16 months ago. She still is unable walk, but says with hard work she’s improving and is determined to walk again one day.
Our Massachusetts spinal cord injury attorneys understand that our roadways are dangerous, and spinal cord injuries (SCI) are some of the most severe. These types of injuries can cause a lifetime of pain, agony, suffering and costly rehabilitation.
The spinal cord is made up of more 31 bones called vertebrae. Seven of these vertebrae are in the neck (cervical), twelve are in the upper and middle back (thoracic), five are in the lower back (lumbar), five are sacral vertebrae and two are fused coccygeal vertebrae (coccyx). Injuries to any one of these vertebrae can result in life-long discomfort and disability.
In the spinal cord is also a central bundle of nerves that is in charge of transporting signals throughout the entire body from the brain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Damages to the spinal column can ultimately cause permanent neurological impairments.
Right now, there are approximately 200,000 people in the U.S. living with a SCI. Experts predict there are up to 40 new cases each year per million residents. That means there are up to 20,000 new SCI patients every year. Alcohol is a contributing factor in about a quarter of all these new cases.
Top Causes of SCI:
-Car Crashes: More than 45 percent.
-Fall Accidents: More than 20 percent.
-Violence: More than 15 percent.
-Sport Injuries: More than 10 percent.
While most victims of SCIs are males (80 percent) and people under the age of 30, anyone is vulnerable.
These types of injuries can be some of the costliest, too. It is estimated that medical costs can total nearly $30,000 a year for an SCI. This means that a person with an SCI can spend anywhere from $500,000 to nearly $5 million for an SCI in their lifetime. This is why it’s important for you to contact an attorney if you’ve sustained an SCI. It is vital to fight for the deserved compensation to cover such costly injuries.
If you or a family member has been injured and is suffering from an SCI in Boston or elsewhere, contact Massachusetts Injury Attorney Jeffrey S. Glassman for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Call 877-617-5333.
Additional Resources:
Waltham resident paralyzed in crash: ‘I’m going to walk’, by Ignacio Laguarda, Wicked Local Waltham
More Blog Entries:
New AARP Course to Help Reduce Risks of Car Accidents in Massachusetts, Nation, Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, February 19, 2012
BEWARE: Trucking Accidents in Foxboro, Erving and Elsewhere in Massachusetts!, Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, February 15, 2012