Recent research from John Hopkins shows that traumatic spinal cord injuries are on the rise, due to an increase in falls. In particular, elderly victims are experiencing the highest rise in spinal cord injuries. These findings may be particularly important in premises liability cases, where a property owner’s negligence could increase the risk for a serious fall.
In the John Hopkin’s study, researchers analyzed 43,137 adults that were treated in emergency rooms across the country for a variety of spinal cord injuries between 2007 and 2009. They found that in victims over the age of 65, the prevalence of spinal cord injuries increased to 87.7 per million in 2009—up from 79.4 in 2007. Over the three-year period, falls were the leading cause of traumatic spinal cord injuries, followed closely by motor vehicle crashes. The elderly accounted for 30% of these injuries.
Sadly, elderly victims who suffer traumatic spinal cord injuries are also 4x more likely to die in the emergency room, compared to younger victims. Even if they survive the initial injury and make it out of the emergency room, they are then 6x more likely to die from complications during their inpatient stay.
Spinal cord injuries are also a financial burden on the healthcare system in America with charges totaling more than $1.6 billion from 2007-2009 alone. The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center estimates that the lifetime costs of caring for a family member with a spinal cord injury ranges between $1 million to $5 million. This is due in large part to improvements in rehab care that enables spinal cord injury victims to live longer lives.
If you or someone you love has sustained a traumatic spinal cord injury in a slip and fall accident on another person’s property, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your injuries. If your injury was the result of negligence, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the responsible party to recover damages. Spinal cord injuries can be severe, requiring a lifetime of care. As such, you need a Seattle personal injury attorney who can fight the insurance companies and ensure that you receive the money you need to adjust to your new disability and changes to your lifestyle.
Contact Seattle Personal Injury Attorneys
If you are interested in learning more about your legal options, call us at 1-800-708-6000. Our Seattle personal injury attorneys are waiting to assist you 24/7, offering a free case evaluation. Remember our no fee promise. If we do not recover anything for you, you do not owe us an attorney fee.
The personal injury lawyers at Phillips Law Firm have successfully represented injured individuals and their families in Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue, Everett, Kent, Auburn, Renton, Federal Way, Bellingham, Marysville, Lakewood, Redmond, Shoreline, and throughout the State of Washington.