The spinal cord— a bundle of nerves that extends from the base of the skull through the vertebrae of the spinal column—is essentially a highway on which messages and signals travel between the brain and the nerves. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 11,000 Americans sustain spinal cord injuries each year, and nearly 200,000 people in the U.S. live with disabilities related to spinal cord injury.

When the spinal cord is damaged, communication between the brain and nerves may be impaired, causing chronic pain or varying degrees of paralysis. In quadriplegia, most of the body, including the arms and legs, is paralyzed. Paraplegia involves paralysis of the lower body. Spinal cord injury may also result in pressure sores, bladder and bowel complications, difficulty in regulating blood pressure, inability to breathe, respiratory infection, or even death.

Among people under the age of 65, motor-vehicle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries. In people older than 65, spinal cord injuries are most often caused by falls. Sports and recreational activities account for 18 percent of spinal cord injuries.

When permanent paralysis is the result of another person's carelessness, the victim may be entitled to compensation for past and future medical expenses, past and future wages, pain and suffering, disability and other damages.

If you have sustained a spinal cord injury or a loved one has suffered such an injury or died as a result of a spinal cord injury caused by the negligence of another, please contact our attorneys for legal assistance as soon as possible. The lawyers of The Lowe Law Firm are experienced in helping people who have been hurt as a result of the carelessness of another. We also represent family members in wrongful death cases.

To learn more, visit our Missouri Injury Lawyer Blog.

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