Rollover Accidents Can Cause Serious Spinal Cord Injuries

Fact: Rollover accidents are the major cause of spinal cord injuries in the United States.

Many of these accidents occur in SUVs which are poorly designed and defective in that are highly susceptible to rollover accidents.

In a rollover accident, an SUV’s hallow roof can collapse (referred to as roof crush). When the roof collapses, the occupants of the vehicle can injure their neck when their head impacts the roof.

Doors and windows can also collapse during a rollover accident, and the occupants can be ejected, striking their head on the vehicle or the ground.

Injuries can range anywhere from a sprain/strain to any part of your back to paralysis.

The spinal cord does not have to be severed to cause problems the damage alone can cut off the flow of information to the brain. The area above the injury may still function, but below the level of injury there is little to no function.

Less severe, but still long-lasting injuries can also occur. A sprain or strain of your neck and low back can affect your everyday activities, making them painful and more difficult to do. Treatment can help, but for some victims the pain never really goes away.

Recovery from a spinal cord injury is expected in the first 6 months after the accident. Less severe injuries, such as a sprain or strain should show significant improvement in this time and should continue to get better as time goes on.

After six months, additional recovery in severe spinal cord injuries is unlikely.