After your accident last year, which left you paralyzed from the waist down, the doctor informed you that the first year of recovery was going to be the hardest and most dangerous. He told you to take it one day at a time, and to always be mindful of any potential problems that could be life-threatening. Well, today is the one year anniversary of the accident and thankfully, you’re still here.
Although you are ecstatic that your recovery is going well, does this mean you’re no longer at risk for fatal complications?
Mortality Rates and Causes for Spinal Cord Injury Sufferers
A spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the worst types of injuries anyone can suffer. SCIs not only limit normal daily function and mobility, but they also have an extremely high mortality rate.
A study designed and conducted by the National Institute of Health (NIH) found that on average, 12 percent of victims suffering paraplegia and quadriplegia died within one year of their accident. The study further revealed that 38 percent of the studied paraplegics and 53 percent of the studied quadriplegics weren’t able to survive an additional 40 years after their initial accident.
This study, along with other research and findings, have lead the NIH to conclude that spinal cord injuries can—and most often do—shorten the victim’s life expectancy as a result of SCI complications. These fatal complications include.
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary embolisms (blood clots, air bubbles, and fat deposits that move to the lungs and cut off circulation to the brain)
- Septicemia (blood poisoning by infections entering the blood stream)
- Kidney failure
- Suicide. SCI victims are three times more likely to commit suicide than healthy individuals
When suffering from an SCI, ongoing treatment, care, assessments and medical supervision is essential to keep infections and blood clots from becoming fatal. Although consistent and continuous treatment and care can be expensive, it remains necessary. However, if your injury was a result of someone else’s carelessness or neglect, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
Don’t allow someone else’s mistake to rob you of a long and fulfilling life. Contact us today for a free consultation and review of your case. With our help, you can get a settlement that will help pay for your treatments and hopefully extend your life. What are you waiting for? Call now.