Head and spinal cord injuries are two of the most catastrophic types of personal injuries that individuals face. If severe, they are incapacitating, requiring extensive medical and assistive care. The main causes of both injuries are also very similar.
Main causes of head and brain injuries
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) breaks down the main causes of brain injury and assigns a percentage to each category as follows:
- Falls (35.2 percent). Children and the elderly are the most prone to falling and suffering from brain injury
- Motor vehicle traffic accidents (17.3 percent). This category applies to vehicle accidents and other traffic-related incidents
- Struck by or against events (16.5 percent). Striking a stationary object while moving or being struck while stationary by a moving object can occur during sports or recreational activities involving an impact with other players or objects
- Assaults (10.5 percent). The groups most at risk for brain injury resulting from assaults are individuals from ages 15 through 64. Assaults are typically the only cause that involves intentional injury, such as gunshot wounds, beatings, muggings or domestic abuse.
Contact a Salt Lake City head injury attorney if you’ve suffered any of these injuries and are interested in exploring your legal options.
Main causes of spinal cord injuries
According to the CDC, the main causes of spinal cord injuries are:
- Motor vehicle accidents (46 percent)
- Falls (22 percent)
- Violence (16 percent)
- Sports (12 percent)
Treatment costs of spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
Statistics reported by the CDC show that the average medical cost for spinal cord injury treatment runs $15,000 to $30,000 per year, and an estimated lifetime cost runs from $500,000 to more than three million dollars depending on injury severity. According to CDC article, TBI costs are around 75 percent of spinal cord injury medical costs.
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