Understanding how these injuries happen is the first step toward prevention and, when negligence is involved, toward getting the justice and compensation that victims deserve. Below, we break down the most common causes of spinal cord injuries in North Carolina, what makes them so devastating, and what legal options may be available to you or a loved one.
What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?
The spinal cord is the bundle of nerves that runs from the base of the brain down through the backbone. It serves as the main communication highway between the brain and the rest of the body. When the spinal cord is damaged, those signals are disrupted or cut off entirely, leading to loss of movement, sensation, or bodily function below the point of injury.
Spinal cord injuries are generally classified as either complete or incomplete. A complete injury means there is no function below the injury site. An incomplete injury means some signal still gets through, and partial movement or sensation may remain. Either type can be life-altering, and both typically require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care.
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, approximately 18,000 new spinal cord injuries occur in the United States every year. North Carolina, as one of the more populous states in the Southeast, sees its share of these tragic cases.
1. Motor Vehicle Accidents
Car accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in North Carolina and across the country. The force involved in a collision, whether at highway speeds or even in a lower-speed crash, can compress, fracture, or sever the vertebrae protecting the spinal cord. Rear-end crashes, T-bone collisions, and rollover accidents are among the most likely to cause serious spinal damage.
Truck accidents are particularly dangerous in this regard. The sheer size and weight of commercial trucks means that when they collide with passenger vehicles, the results can be catastrophic. Motorcycle riders are also at extremely high risk since they have no structural protection around them during impact.
If you were injured in a crash caused by a negligent driver, you may have the right to pursue compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term care needs. Our team handles Greensboro personal injury cases, Kernersville personal injury cases, and Burlington personal injury cases involving serious vehicle accidents throughout the Piedmont region.
2. Slip and Fall Accidents
Falls are the second most common cause of spinal cord injuries, and they happen in more ways than people often realize. A slip on a wet grocery store floor, a fall down a poorly maintained staircase, a tumble from scaffolding at a job site — any of these can result in a vertebral fracture or severe spinal cord trauma depending on the height of the fall and how the person lands.
Older adults are especially vulnerable. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among North Carolinians aged 65 and older, and spinal injuries sustained in a fall at that age often come with a much longer and more complicated recovery process.
When a fall happens because a property owner failed to maintain safe conditions, that property owner may be held legally responsible under premises liability law. Our attorneys handle these cases throughout the region, including Lexington, Thomasville, and Asheboro.
3. Workplace Accidents
North Carolina has a significant workforce in construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and transportation, all of which carry elevated risks for serious injury. Falls from ladders, scaffolding, or elevated platforms are among the most common workplace causes of spinal cord injuries. Heavy equipment accidents, being struck by falling objects, and being caught in or between machinery can also produce devastating spinal trauma.
Workers injured on the job in North Carolina are generally entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, which can cover medical treatment and a portion of lost wages. However, workers’ comp has significant limitations, and in some cases a separate personal injury claim against a third party, such as an equipment manufacturer or a contractor, may also be possible.
Kara F. McIvor, a Board-Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law at Roane Law, has helped injured workers across North Carolina navigate these complex claims and recover the full benefits they are entitled to receive.
4. Acts of Violence
Gunshot wounds and other acts of violence are a tragic but real contributor to spinal cord injuries in North Carolina. Penetrating injuries caused by gunshots or stab wounds can sever or damage the spinal cord directly, often causing immediate and permanent paralysis. These injuries tend to occur in the thoracic region of the spine and frequently result in complete loss of function below the injury site.
In cases involving violence, civil claims may be possible in addition to any criminal proceedings. For example, if an assault occurred at a property where security was negligent or inadequate, the property owner may bear civil liability for the resulting injuries.
5. Sports and Recreation Accidents
North Carolina residents are active. From mountain biking in the western part of the state to water sports at its coastal edges, the outdoor recreation culture here is strong. Unfortunately, contact sports, diving accidents, ATV crashes, and extreme sports all carry a real risk of spinal cord injury.
Diving into shallow water is a classic cause of cervical spinal cord injuries among young people. The head strikes the bottom, the neck compresses, and the damage can be instantaneous. Football and other contact sports have also been linked to spinal cord injuries, though equipment improvements and rule changes have reduced, but not eliminated, that risk over time.
When these injuries happen because of defective equipment, inadequate safety measures at a facility, or the negligence of another party, legal accountability may be possible.
6. Medical Malpractice
Not all spinal cord injuries happen in dramatic accidents. Some result from errors made in medical settings. Surgical mistakes during spinal procedures, failure to diagnose and treat spinal infections or tumors in a timely manner, improper patient positioning during surgery, and anesthesia errors can all lead to catastrophic spinal cord damage.
Medical malpractice cases are among the most complex in personal injury law. They require a thorough understanding of both medicine and the law, along with the ability to retain credible expert witnesses. At Roane Law, our attorneys have the experience and resources to pursue these difficult cases on behalf of injured patients and their families.
7. Defective Products
Sometimes a spinal cord injury results not from anyone’s direct negligence but from a product that simply did not work the way it was supposed to. Defective vehicle safety systems, faulty safety harnesses, malfunctioning medical devices, and poorly designed recreational equipment have all been linked to serious spinal injuries.
Product liability law holds manufacturers, distributors, and retailers responsible when a defective product causes harm. These cases often require in-depth investigation and the involvement of engineering or product safety experts, but they can result in significant compensation for victims.
The Long-Term Impact of a Spinal Cord Injury
The financial toll of a spinal cord injury is staggering. Initial hospitalization and acute care alone can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Add in rehabilitation, adaptive equipment, home modifications, ongoing personal care, and lost lifetime earnings, and the total lifetime cost of a severe spinal cord injury can easily reach into the millions.
Beyond the financial burden, there are the human costs. Relationships change. Independence is lost. Depression, anxiety, and grief are common. Families often become full-time caregivers, sacrificing their own careers and well-being in the process. No settlement or verdict can undo that harm, but fair compensation can make it possible for a victim and their family to access the care and support they need to move forward.
What to Do After a Spinal Cord Injury in North Carolina
If you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury due to another party’s negligence, there are some important steps to take as early as possible.
- Get immediate and thorough medical care. Your health comes first, and a complete medical record also serves as critical evidence in any future legal claim.
- Document everything. Keep records of medical bills, treatment notes, communications with insurance companies, and any other paperwork related to the injury and its cause.
- Avoid giving recorded statements to insurance adjusters. Insurance companies are focused on minimizing what they pay out. Anything you say can and will be used to reduce your claim.
- Contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. North Carolina has a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, but evidence can disappear quickly, and early investigation often makes a significant difference in case outcomes.
How Roane Law Can Help
At Roane Law, we have spent decades fighting for seriously injured North Carolinians, and spinal cord injury cases are among the most important work we do. We understand the medical complexity of these injuries, the long-term care needs involved, and what it truly takes to build a case that accounts for every dimension of your loss, not just your current medical bills but everything you will face in the years ahead.
Our founder James M. Roane III survived a serious accident himself in 1995, and that experience shapes the way our entire team approaches every case. We are not just attorneys. We are advocates who understand what our clients are going through because we have lived something similar.
We serve clients throughout the Piedmont Triad and surrounding areas, including Greensboro, Kernersville, Burlington, Reidsville, Lexington, Thomasville, and Asheboro. If you are dealing with a spinal cord injury caused by someone else’s negligence, we want to hear your story.
Contact Roane Law today for a free, no-obligation consultation. There are no upfront fees, and we only get paid if we win your case. Let us carry the legal burden while you focus on your recovery.