SCI Risk Factors

One of the greatest risk factors to spinal cord injury is the negligence or wrongdoing of one party that results in an accident causing serious physical harm to another. Accidents are among of the chief causes of spinal cord injuries; and, often, are entirely preventable when people are cautious while operating vehicles and participating in other activities.

If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident or another situation involving negligence or wrongdoing, you may be able to seek compensation for your losses and suffering. Read on to learn more about the other major risk factors for spinal cord injury.

While a spinal cord injury can affect anyone, certain factors increase the risk of sustaining a spinal cord injury.

Common SCI risk factors include:

• Being male. For a variety of reasons, men are much more likely than women to experience spinal cord injury. In fact, 80 percent of all spinal cord injuries affect men in the United States.
• Participation in certain sports. While sports provide excellent benefits to overall health, they also pose an increased risk in certain injuries including muscle and bone injuries, and spinal cord injuries. The following sports may increase the risk of spinal cord injury:
  • Football
  • Rugby
  • Wrestling
  • Gymnastics
  • Horseback riding
  • Diving and surfing
  • Roller skating, in-line skating, and ice hockey
  • Skiing and snowboarding
• Being between ages 16 to 30. People between the ages of 16 to 30 are at greatest risk of spinal cord injuries. For people under 65, the number one cause of spinal cord injury is motor vehicle accidents. Those over the age of 65 are most likely to suffer spinal cord injuries in falls.
• Underlying bone or joint diseases. Patients who have underlying conditions affecting the bones or joints-such as osteoporosis or arthritis-are more likely to suffer spinal cord injury even in relatively minor accidents.

While some of these risk factors are avoidable, others should serve as a caution to high-risk populations. Regardless of these risk factors, if a person suffers spinal cord injury due to another party's actions or negligence, the injured party may be able to recover their losses. Please contact the experienced spinal cord injury attorneys at Aitken Aitken Cohn to learn more about your legal rights and options.