The residents of Wilmington, Delaware know that spinal cord injuries are serious matters that people should try to avoid. A significant spinal cord injury can leave a person paralyzed, sometimes even from the neck down.
For almost anyone, being paralyzed will mean the loss of work and will most certainly require significant medical treatment and rehabilitation. Depending on the extent of the paralysis, a person could need constant help performing daily life functions.
Although there is a lot of emphasis and news attention on spinal cord injuries that happen in connection with sports, less than 10 percent of spinal cord injuries are related to sporting events, with the most dangerous sport in this respect being high diving. To give a rough comparison, the number of spinal cord injuries due to sporting is only slightly higher than injuries related to surgical or other medical malpractice.
By far and away, the most common cause of spinal cord injuries is injuries related to automobile or other motor vehicle accidents. Auto and other accidents, including those involving motorcycles, ATVs and bicycles, account for well over one-third of spinal cord injuries. Falling, which includes common slips and falls, are the second leading cause of spinal cord injuries, being related to almost 30 percent of them.
What this should tell Delaware residents is that many times, common acts of carelessness and thoughtlessness lead to spinal cord injuries. A negligent driver can easily leave a person paralyzed, as can a careless landowner who forgets to clean up ice and snow or otherwise does not take care to make his or her premises safe.
