TL;DR: Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in the United States, accounting for roughly 38% of new cases every year. Depending on the severity and location of the damage, an SCI can result in loss of sensation, impaired movement, or paralysis. When another person or company causes the injury through negligence, the injured person may seek compensation.
Highlights:
- Call 911 and keep still until help arrives.
- Get evaluated immediately and ask providers to document neurologic findings.
- Photograph vehicles, roadway, and visible injuries before repairs or cleanup.
- Request the crash report and collect witness names and contact details.
- Save medical bills, rehab plans, and proof of lost income and future care.
- Identify all potentially responsible parties, which may include drivers, employers, manufacturers, and road agencies.
- Track filing deadlines – two years for most CA injury lawsuits and six months for government claims.
Tip: Stick to facts when speaking with insurers – avoid guessing about speed, symptoms, or fault.
Table of Contents
Motor vehicle accidents account for roughly 38% of new spinal cord injury (SCI) cases every year, making them the leading cause of SCIs in the United States. Vehicle crashes are especially dangerous to the spinal cord because they can expose the body to sudden compression, twisting, and rapid forward-and-back movement. These forces may fracture or dislocate the vertebrae, causing the bones or surrounding tissue to compress or damage the spinal cord.
SCIs often result in life-altering physical and financial losses. Traffic accident victims typically may sustain a loss of mobility or even paralysis. As a result, they may require long-term care and experience a reduced quality of life. California law may give you the right to pursue compensation for those losses if someone else’s actions caused the crash and your spinal cord injuries.
Data Transparency Note: The statistics in this blog come from multiple medical and crash studies conducted in different years and using different populations, methods, and definitions. Percentages and injury patterns may vary across datasets, so the figures should be read as estimates rather than direct comparisons from a single source. The blog will be updated as newer data becomes available.
The Most Common Kinds Of Motor Vehicle Accidents That Cause SCIs
The crash types most closely linked to SCIs include:
- High-Speed Frontal Collisions: These are closely linked to traumatic spinal cord injuries because the sudden impact can expose the spine to extreme compression and flexion forces. These forces may fracture or dislocate vertebrae and damage the spinal cord.
- According to a 2024 study, frontal impacts were the most common collision configuration among motor vehicle crashes resulting in cervical spine dislocation (41%). This injury often accompanies SCIs.
- Rollover Crashes: Rollovers can cause severe spinal trauma as occupants experience multiple impacts, twisting forces, roof intrusion, or ejection from the vehicle. These crashes are also closely associated with traumatic spinal cord injuries.
- A 2024 study of cervical vertebral and spinal cord injuries in rollover occupants concluded that cervical spine injuries involving vertebral fractures were far more likely in rollover crashes, occurring about 5.2 to 6.4 times more often than in crashes without a rollover.
- Motorcycle Collisions: Riders have little structural protection during a crash. Their bodies may absorb the impact directly or strike the pavement, another vehicle, or another object, increasing the risk of serious spinal trauma.
- The 2020 study Patterns of spinal cord injury in automobiles versus motorcycles and bicycles concludes that motorcycle crashes tend to cause spinal cord injuries in the thoracic region more often. Thoracic injuries are more likely to involve complete loss of motor function.
While any serious collision can damage the spinal cord, crashes involving greater impact forces or less protection can lead to more severe injuries. The location and extent of the damage will determine how much movement, sensation, and function a person may lose.
What Types Of Spinal Cord Injuries Can Vehicle Crashes Cause?
Doctors generally classify spinal cord injuries as complete or incomplete based on how much movement and sensation remain below the damaged area. A complete spinal cord injury causes a total loss of motor and sensory function below the injury, while an incomplete injury leaves some movement or sensation intact.
The effects also depend on where the spinal cord is damaged. A cervical spinal cord injury affects the neck region and can lead to loss of function in both the arms and legs, known as tetraplegia. Injuries to the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral regions may affect the lower body and can result in paraplegia. In general, injuries higher on the spinal cord can affect more areas of the body.
Vehicle crashes can lead to incomplete injury patterns like central cord syndrome. This often affects the cervical spinal cord. The outcome varies based on the location and severity of the damage. Symptoms can include weakness, reduced sensation, or even significant paralysis. In fact, motor vehicle accidents are among the top causes of paralysis injuries.
Can You File A Claim If A Traffic Accident Causes Your Spinal Cord Injury?
If someone else’s negligence caused your spinal cord injury, you may have the right to seek compensation. In California, an injury claim needs proof that another party owed you a duty of care under Civil Code Section 1714. You must also show they caused your injury because they failed that duty.
Evidence like crash reports, medical records, photos, witness statements, and expert analysis can help motor vehicle accident attorneys clarify what happened and who may be responsible. Potentially liable parties might include:
- Negligent drivers.
- Trucking companies.
- Property owners.
- Contractors.
- Manufacturers of defective vehicle parts.
- Public entities responsible for operating government vehicles or maintaining roads.
Compensation may cover both the financial and personal effects of a spinal cord injury. Economic damages can include:
- Medical treatment.
- Future care, including long-term rehabilitation.
- Rehabilitation.
- Mobility equipment.
- Home modifications.
- Lost income.
- Future care.
Non-economic damages may cover:
- Pain.
- Emotional suffering.
- Loss of activities or independence you once enjoyed.
California’s comparative fault rules may also affect compensation. Being partly at fault in an accident doesn’t stop an injured person from getting damages. However, the amount they receive may be lessened by their level of fault.
California also sets deadlines for filing injury lawsuits. Unless an exception applies, a two-year statute of limitations applies to personal injury cases (Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1). That means you generally have two years from the date of a motor vehicle accident to sue for a spinal cord injury. Claims against a government entity often have shorter deadlines. In some cases, you may only have six months to submit a formal claim (Government Code Section 911.2).
Early investigation is crucial after a serious accident. Vehicles might get repaired quickly. Road evidence can vanish, and surveillance footage may be erased. Also, witnesses can be harder to find.
Our Results In Cases Involving Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can lead to substantial medical expenses, lost income, and long-term care needs. Our spinal cord injury lawyers help clients with serious injury cases. These cases often lead to big physical and financial losses.
- $5,500,000: A rollover trucking accident caused our client to sustain spinal cord damage and a mild traumatic brain injury. The crash happened while he was performing his job duties. We ultimately obtained a $5.5 million settlement on his behalf.
- $6,500,000: After falling from a roof, our client suffered a spinal cord injury and a mild traumatic brain injury. His employer first denied responsibility. They claimed he was on the roof for a personal favor, not for work. We challenged that position at trial and obtained a finding of liability. We later secured a $5.89 million workers’ compensation settlement, along with a separate $610,000 third-party settlement.
- $5,200,000: A Santa Ana workers’ compensation judge approved a $5.2 million settlement for our client. He suffered a spinal cord injury and a mild traumatic brain injury after falling from a tree. This recovery aims to provide stable financial help for the care and rehabilitation he now requires due to his injuries.
Past results reflect our experience but do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can raise urgent questions about medical care, recovery, work, and legal options. The answers below address some common concerns people may have after a serious spinal injury.
What Are Other Common Causes Of Spinal Cord Injuries?
In U.S. spinal cord injury data, falls are the second most common cause of SCIs, accounting for an estimated 30% of SCI incidents. Falls are particularly common among older adults. Other common causes of SCIs include acts of violence, as well as sports and recreational activities. These account for approximately 13% and 9% of SCI cases, respectively.
What Should I Do Immediately After A Suspected Spinal Cord Injury?
Call 911 and keep yourself (if you’re the one who’s hurt) or the injured person as still as possible. Avoid moving, twisting, or repositioning unless there’s immediate danger or lifesaving care is needed. Let emergency medical professionals stabilize and transport you or the injured person. This helps reduce the risk of further spinal damage.
Can I File A Claim If My Spinal Cord Injury Happened At Work?
Workers’ compensation may cover medical care and other benefits after a work-related spinal cord injury. If someone other than your employer caused the accident, you may have a third-party claim. This could be a contractor, a property owner, or an equipment maker.
Will A Pre-Existing Back Condition Ruin My Spinal Cord Injury Claim?
A pre-existing back condition does not automatically prevent you from seeking compensation. The key issue is whether the accident caused a new injury or worsened an existing condition. Medical records can help distinguish prior symptoms from the additional harm caused by the accident.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer?
Personal injury lawyers typically work on a contingency fee basis, so clients do not pay attorney fees upfront. The fee is generally collected from the recovery if the case is successful.
What Kind Of Medical Professionals Will I Need After An SCI?
Depending on the severity of your SCI, your care team after a spinal cord injury might include:
- Trauma surgeons.
- Neurologists.
- Rehabilitation physicians.
- Physical therapists.
- Occupational therapists.
- Other specialists.
If finances are a concern after your spinal cord injury, an attorney could help connect you to healthcare professionals who offer medical liens. These will allow you to get the care your injury needs without having to make upfront payments. The doctors who treat you would then take their fees out of any settlement or award you may receive.
Contact Arash Law To Learn About Your Options After A Spinal Cord Injury
A spinal cord injury claim often includes high medical bills and long-term losses. Talking to an attorney early gives more time to investigate how the injury occurred. It also helps find who may be responsible and assess the compensation options available to you.
AK Law works on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless the case resolves in your favor. Call (888) 488-1391 to schedule your free initial consultation with a California spinal cord injury attorney today.
