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Study Finds Car Accidents a Major Source of Serious Spinal Cord Injuries

On Behalf of | Dec 7, 2012 | Spinal Cord Injury

By Pendergast Law on December 7, 2012

Car accidents are the most common cause of fracture in the axis vertebra, which is just one type of car accident spinal cord injury that can seriously affect the life of a victim. The axis vertebra is the second vertebra down from the base of the skull. The axis vertebra sits near the top of the neck. If the spinal cord is injured in this area as well, the victim may be partly or completely paralyzed.

One study, published in the medical journal Spine, followed 625 axis cervical spine fracture patients. Sixty-eight percent of the patients studied had suffered fractures in a car accident.

The study also found that roughly half of those who suffered axis fractures in car accidents were involved in single-vehicle accidents. Although seat belts might have provided the greatest protection to these patients and may even have prevented their fractures, most patients whose records contained seat belt information had not been wearing one when they were injured.

The study also noted that the mortality rate for patients with axis spine fractures was higher than in patients who suffered other kinds of injuries in car accidents. On average, 25 to 40 percent of those who suffer axis fractures in car accidents do not survive.

Spinal fractures and spinal cord injuries can cause life-altering disabilities or even claim lives. At Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S., our hardworking Seattle auto accident spinal cord injury attorneys are dedicated to helping injured people get the compensation they need. Call us today at 888-539-9211 for a free consultation.

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