Injury Resource Center of Michigan
Back and spinal cord injuries remain among the most serious consequences of accidents, with approximately 18,000 new traumatic spinal cord injuries occurring annually in the United States. An estimated 305,000 Americans are currently living with spinal cord injuries, facing lifelong challenges that affect every aspect of their lives. Back injuries are equally prevalent, with more than 1 million workplace-related back injuries reported each year nationwide. Understanding the serious nature of these injuries and your legal rights is essential for protecting your future.
The Low Back: Vulnerable to Serious Injury
The low back is susceptible to a variety of injuries due to stressful trauma from car accidents, truck and tractor-trailer accidents, motorcycle accidents, and construction and workplace accidents. Injuries may include soft-tissue strains and sprains, as well as more serious injuries such as fractures or dislocations of the bones in the lower back.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, back-related injuries account for 38.5% of all work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the United States. Lower back pain costs between $85 billion and $238 billion annually in the United States when combining direct medical expenses and indirect costs such as lost wages and reduced productivity.
A coccyx or tail bone injury is more frequent in women than in men because of anatomical differences. Fractures of the coccyx are often painful and are aggravated by prolonged sitting, standing up from a sitting position, and by performing routine activities. Treatment of the fracture may involve bed rest, wearing of belts and girdles, pain medication and anti-inflammatory agents, and in severe cases, surgical intervention.
Understanding Strains and Sprains
A strain of the lower back is a soft tissue injury in which there is a pulling or stretching of the muscle, ligament or tissue. Pain in the lower back and restricted motion due to pain are common symptoms of low back strain. Treatment of acute lower back strain is rest and medications.
On the other hand, a sprain of the lower back involves tearing or rupture of the tissue that may be accompanied by swelling or bruising. Treatment is much the same as for strains. However, recovery from a low back sprain may be more prolonged than from a strain and more often results in chronic low back discomfort. Studies show that up to 44% of people who successfully treat their low back pain will have a recurrence within 12 months.
Spinal Column and Vertebrae Injuries
The backbone or spinal column of 33 separate bones or vertebrae are vulnerable to injury, especially in serious motor vehicle accidents. The cervical spine, the seven bones that sit at the top of the spinal column, are particularly susceptible to injury with the principle risk being damage to the spinal cord and nerves.
If there are serious injuries present, measures (including surgery) to relieve the pressure around the spinal cord and nerves will take priority over treatment of fractures or dislocation of the bones. Diagnostic procedures, such as neurological examinations, must be performed with utmost caution because of the potential of spinal instability. The type of treatment for vertebral injuries depends upon the type of fracture, whether there is neurological damage, and the age and physical state of the accident victim.
Spinal Cord Injuries: Life-Altering Consequences
Motor vehicle accidents account for 38% of all spinal cord injuries in the United States since 2015, making them the leading cause of these catastrophic injuries. Construction and industrial accidents, gunshot wounds, falls (32% of cases), acts of violence (15%), and sporting accidents (8%) are also significant causes of spinal cord trauma.
Who Is Most at Risk?
The demographics of spinal cord injury have shifted significantly over the decades. The average age at injury has increased from 29 years during the 1970s to 43 years since 2015. Males account for approximately 79% of new spinal cord injury cases. At greatest risk are individuals between ages 16 and 30, with 47% of all injuries occurring in this age group. The most common age at the time of injury is 19 years old.
The Devastating Impact
Victims of serious spinal cord injuries are often left with life-long social and occupational difficulties as well as physical and emotional impairments. Serious damage to the spinal cord, especially the cervical spine, often results in catastrophic, life-threatening consequences. An accident victim may suffer:
- Paralysis, or loss of voluntary movement, in all four limbs, both legs and arms, or a combination thereof
- Loss of sensation below the injury site
- Bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunction
- Respiratory complications
- Chronic pain
- Head, neck and brain injuries often occurring simultaneously
- Increased risk of secondary medical complications including pneumonia and septicemia
Approximately two-thirds of spinal cord injuries since 2015 are classified as incomplete, meaning some connections between the brain and areas below the level of injury remain intact. Complete spinal cord injuries, where all connections are severed, account for about one-third of cases.
Medical Treatment and Recovery Timeline
After a spinal cord injury, patients typically stay in the hospital acute care unit for an average of 19 days, followed by approximately 37 days in rehabilitation. However, the journey doesn’t end there. About 30% of those with spinal cord injuries are re-hospitalized one or more times during any given year for complications.
The lifetime costs of spinal cord injury are staggering and vary greatly based on the severity of injury, age at injury, education, and pre-injury employment history. These costs include both direct medical expenses and indirect costs such as losses in wages, fringe benefits, and productivity, which averaged $92,578 per year in 2023.
Life Expectancy Concerns
The average remaining years of life for persons with spinal cord injuries have not improved since the 1980s and remain significantly below life expectancies of persons without spinal cord injuries. Mortality rates are significantly higher during the first year after injury than during subsequent years, particularly for persons with the most severe neurological impairments.
Prevention: The Most Effective Strategy
A number of spinal cord injuries could be prevented in car accidents if passengers always wear seatbelts. Using a seatbelt can reduce the possibility of a spinal cord injury by more than half, and combining seatbelts with functioning airbags can reduce the odds even more significantly.
Public education for children and adolescents about the dangers of diving into shallow water has also helped to limit the number of spinal cord injuries. In the workplace, proper training, adequate staffing, and appropriate safety equipment can prevent many of the more than 1 million back injuries that occur in occupational settings annually.
Why Legal Representation Matters
Because serious back and spinal cord injury victims often face long term medical treatment, loss of earning power and self-esteem, and social and financial difficulties, it is important that the victim and family members talk with an attorney who is skilled and experienced in injury law.
The Law Offices of Henry M. Hanflik understands the profound impact these injuries have on individuals and families. We have the experience and resources to:
- Thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your accident
- Identify all liable parties and available insurance coverage
- Document the full extent of your injuries and future medical needs
- Calculate both economic and non-economic damages
- Negotiate aggressively with insurance companies
- Take your case to trial if necessary to secure fair compensation
Our firm has successfully represented victims of back and spinal cord injuries for over 35 years, securing millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients. We understand Michigan’s complex no-fault insurance laws and how they apply to catastrophic injury cases. We also handle cases involving wrongful death when these devastating injuries prove fatal.
Contact Our Experienced Michigan Injury Lawyers
If you, a friend or loved one have suffered serious back or spinal cord injuries, talk with an experienced Michigan injury lawyer who will obtain the maximum degree of justice for you. Time is critical in these cases—evidence must be preserved, witnesses must be interviewed, and strict legal deadlines must be met.
Contact The Law Offices of Henry M. Hanflik by completing the online form or by calling 810-720-4000 for a free consultation.
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