People older than 65 are experiencing far more spinal cord injuries than they were two decades ago, a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has revealed.
A trusted Denver personal injury lawyer takes a look at a new study that reports increased rates of spinal cord injuries among the elderly. Contact us if you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury due to another’s negligence.
In fact, while spinal cord injury rates amount people between 16 and 24 have significantly declined over the past 20 years, these rates among elderly people have jumped up substantially – increasing more than 61 percent from 1993 to 2012.
This study, which was conducted at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, was headed up by Dr. Nitin Jain. Explaining the importance of this study, Dr. Jain stated:
Spinal cord injury is a catastrophic injury that often results in permanent disability…these problems are likely to increase with our aging population…Efforts to understand and prevent falls in elderly persons is a public health priority.
What’s Causing these Trends? Researchers Weigh In…
The discrepancy between the decrease in spinal cord injuries for younger people versus the increase in these injury rates among the elderly may be perplexing on the surface. However, researchers have pointed out some possible explanations for these trends, noting that:
- The decreased rates of spinal cord injuries for people between 16 and 24 have likely resulted from better vehicle safety features, as well as improved graduated drivers’ license programs, better education, etc.
- The increase rates of these injuries for the elderly may largely be due to falling injuries.
In fact, as some have pointed out:
- Elderly people typically have a greater risk of falling due to factors like declining vision, mobility limitations and deterioration of fine and gross motor skills.
- While elderly people can fall anywhere, home falls are a particular danger, especially for those who don’t have the proper mobility aids.
- Simple things like wearing the right size shoes and having an up-to-date eyeglasses prescription can be helpful to reducing the risks of falls – as well as the risk of sustaining a serious spinal cord injury – for elderly people.
Contact a Denver Personal Injury Lawyer at Cederberg Law
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, contact a Denver personal injury lawyer at the Cederberg Law to find out more about your best options for financial recovery.
At Cederberg Law, you will not be handed off to a paralegal or assistant. You will receive personal attention and professional service from an experienced lawyer who cares about you and who is dedicated to providing you with superior legal services so you can secure the ful amount of compensation to which you are entitled.
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