22 May Types of Accidents That Lead to Spinal Cord Injuries

Burien is a city in Washington that was built from a 100-year-old waterfront community on the Puget Sound. The city is known for its vibrant and creative community. The charm of this city, combined with its rich history, makes it a very popular choice for people looking to settle close to Seattle but want to avoid the big city bustle. But no matter how charming a place is, accidents do happen, and one of the many life-changing injuries is spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injuries as a result of accidents are more common than we imagine. These injuries often cause life-changing impacts, such as the inability to walk. The most common outcome of these fatal injuries is usually partial or even full loss of sensation below the injured area. Spinal cord injuries occur during sudden or forceful accidents.

If you are involved in an accident that led to a spinal cord injury, you must contact a spinal cord injury lawyer in Burien.

Let us explore the types of accidents that often result in spinal cord injuries.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

The leading type of accident that causes spinal cord damage is motor vehicle accidents. Even though these accidents mostly happen at busy intersections and on highways, they can also happen anywhere. Rollovers, high-speed collisions, and even simple rear-end crashes result in fatal damage to an individual’s back and neck. During a car accident, the spine can get twisted or jolted, causing spinal cord trauma.

Falls

Another significant type of accident that causes spinal cord injuries is falling. This especially affects the elderly. These falls can be from a high platform, such as a ladder, stairs, or even a slip on a wet floor.

If the fall gets the spinal cord twisted, the results can be traumatic. Other instances where falls cause this type of injury are in workplaces, especially if the worker is carrying heavy loads or falls off equipment such as a crane. A personal injury claim lawyer can help you claim compensation for the injury if it was caused due to the fault of another individual.

Violent Environment

Violence has also resulted in a large number of spinal cord injuries. Acts such as being accidentally shot or stabbed can result in spinal cord injuries. Physical assault that is intense in nature also falls under the list of such accidents. The primary cause of these violent accidents is the environment where they occur. When you work in a violent setup or an unsafe area, you may fall prey to these accidents. The recovery process of these accidents may cause intense psychological trauma.

Sports and Recreational Injuries

Some sports, mainly contact sports like football and rugby, also endanger the spinal cord. There have been cases of athletes who have suffered spinal cord injuries while in the field.

For instance, if during a rugby game, a player is tackled from the wrong side, he or she may fall on their back, which results in fractures of the backbone. Trying high-risk moves while engaging in wrestling matches or even diving into shallow water can also have disastrous effects on the spinal cord.

Conclusion

We can obviously note that any number of accidents can lead to spinal cord injuries, either minor or severe. These accidents do not come with any warning. Whether it is during a sporting event, a car accident, or even an accidental stabbing, the effects can be life-altering. However, attorneys come in handy when you want to file for compensation.

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More information:

Mayo Clinic. (2023). Spinal Cord Injury: Causes. Available at:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/spinal-cord-injury/symptoms-causes/syc-20377890

Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. (2025). Causes of Paralysis. Available at: https://www.christopherreeve.org/living-with-paralysis/causes-of-paralysis

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Last Updated on May 22, 2025 by Marie Benz MD FAAD