Most Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal cord is the major bundle of nerves responsible for carrying impulses to and from the brain to the rest of the body. A spinal cord injury involves any kind of damage to the spinal cord or the nerves at the end of the spinal canal. A spinal cord injury can be life changing, as it often causes temporary or even permanent loss of sensation, strength, and function such as mobility below the site of the injury. Spinal cord injuries are the result of a direct trauma to the nerves themselves or damage to the bones, soft tissues, and vessels surrounding the spinal cord.

A traumatic spinal cord injury can occur as the result of a sudden blow to, or laceration of, the spine. In most spinal cord injuries, the spinal cord is either bruised or torn, but not completely severed. There are complete and incomplete spinal cord injuries. In an incomplete injury, some functioning remains below the level of the injury. In a complete spinal cord injury, all ability to feel and voluntarily move is lost below the level of the injury. Common medical treatments can include drugs to alleviate symptoms and back surgery to stabilize the spine, but while treatment can help, this condition cannot be cured and can therefore be extremely devastating.

The ten most common causes of spinal cord injuries are:

  1. Automobile accident
  2. Falls
  3. Gunshot wounds
  4. Diving injuries
  5. Motorcycle accidents
  6. Falling objects
  7. Medical and surgical complications
  8. Pedestrian accidents
  9. Bicycle accidents
  10. Person to person contact (usually violent)

Other causes include sports injuries and drunk driving accidents. Some symptoms that can exhibit as a result of a spinal cord injury are:

  • Extreme pain in your back or neck
  • Impaired breathing
  • Pressure in your back, neck, or head
  • Loss of balance and/or difficulty walking
  • Weakness or lack of coordination or paralysis in any part of your body
  • Numbness, tingling, or lack of sensation in your limbs or extremities
  • Loss of bladder or bowel control
  • Twisted neck or back

If you have suffered a serious spinal cord injury, you should know your rights. You have the right to:

  • Compensation for all your medical bills related to the accident
  • Ongoing medical treatment
  • Compensation for lost wages or earnings
  • Any assistive equipment necessary for activities of daily living
  • Compensation for mental, emotional, and physical pain and suffering
  • Emotional support such as therapy or counseling
  • Compensation for lost future earnings
  • Rehabilitative therapy


If you or a loved one have been injured and suspect you may have suffered a spinal cord injury, seek immediate medical attention. If symptoms appear at the scene of an accident, call 911 and do not attempt to move the injured person. A spinal injury may not be immediately detectable by anyone other than a qualified medical professional, and additional damage may occur over the next several days or weeks due to bleeding, swelling, inflammation and fluid accumulation in and around the spinal cord.

Our firm exclusively represents clients against large insurance companies and big corporations in personal injury matters. At Whalen Injury Lawyers, we have successfully represented many accident victims over the years, winning millions in personal injury case settlements. We are proud to be one of America’s Top 100 Attorneys, 5280 Top Attorneys in Colorado, Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and Super Lawyers. At Whalen Injury Lawyers, our Denver and Colorado Springs injury lawyers aren’t afraid to fight large insurance companies to make sure you receive the compensation you deserve. We take on the fight for a fair settlement so you can focus on getting the treatment you need to heal from your injuries if at all possible and move on with your life.

Our goal is to establish a direct, meaningful, trusted and reliable relationship and secure a settlement for you that is fair and equitable. We will work closely with you to make certain that you are adequately compensated for any loss you suffer as a result of a personal injury. For a compassionate, experienced, personal injury attorney with a proven track record of success, give us a call. Whalen Injury Lawyers will fight for your best interests both in and out of the courtroom. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your legal options.

You can reach us in Denver at (720) 307-2666 to speak with one of our personal injury attorneys in Denver, CO. Our offices are located in the Denver Tech Center at 7955 East Arapahoe Court, Suite 2375, Centennial, CO 80112, and in Colorado Springs in the Alamo Corporate Center conveniently located at 102 S. Tejon Street, Suite 1100, (719) 644-7000. We look forward to working with you.

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