The most common causes of spinal cord injury are as a result of breaking or damaging the bones in the back or neck, which in turn can damage the spinal cord. Such damage can be caused by road traffic accidents, domestic and work related accidents, sports injuries, self-harm and assault. Damage to the spinal cord can also be caused by medical conditions such as viral infections, cysts and tumours and complications relating to surgery.

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that results in a loss of function, such as mobility or feeling. The spinal cord does not have to be severed in order for a loss of functioning to occur. In fact, most people with SCI have an intact spinal cord, but damage to it has resulted in loss of functioning.

It is not always evident that a person has a SCI, especially if it is caused by the onset of an illness or growth of a tumor. Symptoms may include weakness, poor coordination, numbness or tingling, loss of sensation, loss of bowel or bladder control, paralysis and pain. An attorney can file a lawsuit on your behalf and seek recovery for several types of damages, including for pain and suffering, lost past wages, lost future earning capacity, current and future medical expenses, among others.

Anyone who suffers a spinal cord injury as the result of the reckless or negligent actions of another party may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Whether you have sustained a spinal cord injury in a motor vehicle accident, construction accident, or as the result of a defective or unsafe product, you can bring a claim against the responsible party (or parties).

The symptoms of a spinal cord injury generally depend on two factors: the location of the injury and the severity of the injury. When a spinal cord injury occurs higher on the spinal column, the victim suffers more extensive paralysis. A victim with a "partial" spinal cord injury may retain some sensation or motor function below the affected area. "Complete" spinal cord injuries are defined by complete loss of motor function and sensation below the affected area.

The most common causes of spinal cord injuries are motor vehicle accidents, followed by falls, acts of violence and sporting accidents. Medical malpractice, such as improper epidural injection, is also a cause of significant spinal cord injury.

Of the 10,000-12,000 spinal cord injuries that occur in the United States every year, more than 80 percent of the injuries are suffered by young men between the ages of 16 and 30.

Depending on which segments of the spine were injured, people with spinal cord injuries face a number of other health problems because of the injury, including chronic pain, bladder and bowel dysfunction, irregular heart beats, low blood pressure, pressure sores, spasms and reproductive and sexual dysfunction. They are also at risk for heart and respiratory problems and blood clots, among other conditions.

At this time, no. If there is compression on the spinal cord or the spine needs to be stabilized, surgery can be performed in an attempt to correct these problems. After surgery, some function may be restored, but surgery is currently unable to restore all lost function from a spinal cord injury. Spinal cord injuries are devastating and have life-long consequences.

Overall, 85 percent of SCI patients who survive the first 24 hours following injury are alive 10 years later.

The most common cause of a spinal cord injury is a motor vehicle accident. Other common causes of spinal cord injuries include deliberate acts of violence (such as a stabbing or shooting), falls and sports-related injuries.

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