3 causes of injury-acquired quadriplegia

Spinal cord injuries can be catastrophic. They create permanent medical challenges and create significant financial pressure on the injured person. Still, they vary in severity from one case to the next.

Medical professionals classify spinal cord injuries based on their location and impact. Complete injuries that sever the spinal cord often cause a total loss of function and sensation. The higher on the spine the injury is, the more difficult it can be to recover after sustaining a significant spinal cord injury.

Quadriplegia, also sometimes called tetraplegia, is what happens when an injury to the cervical or upper spine permanently prevents someone from using any of their limbs. Quadriplegia is a devastating diagnosis that carries major lifetime medical expenses and the need for ongoing accommodations.

What types of incidents have the strongest correlation with quadriplegia due to spinal cord injuries?

Car crashes

According to injury statistics, motor vehicle collisions are the top cause of spinal cord injuries. The abrupt course of a collision can move the body in unnatural ways, causing permanent damage to the spine. People may not be able to exit the vehicle after the crash and may require immediate trauma care to stabilize their injuries.

Significant falls

Perhaps the balcony at a restaurant collapses, sending the patrons tumbling to the ground. Perhaps a professional at a construction site falls without a harness. A fall from a significant elevation can cause a spinal cord injury that leads to quadriplegia or tetraplegia. Even relatively small distances could cause spinal cord injuries depending on the angle of impact.

Interpersonal violence

Physical assault and violence involving weapons can potentially damage the spinal cord. Gunfire, knife wounds and even blows to the head could cause permanent spinal cord injuries. The injured person may forever require mobility assistance and ongoing medical support because of their quadriplegia.

Understanding the most common causes of spinal cord injuries can help people protect themselves and recognize when they may have grounds to hold another party accountable for a major spinal cord injury. Compensation claims involving insurance or even civil litigation can help people cover treatment costs and replace the wages they could have earned if they did not sustain a major injury caused by another’s negligence or misconduct.