Falls are the second leading cause of spinal cord injuries, accounting for approximately 30% of all cases. When falls result from dangerous property conditions or workplace hazards, the responsible parties can be held liable for resulting paralysis.
How Falls Cause Spinal Cord Injuries
The spine is vulnerable to several mechanisms of injury during falls:
Vertical Compression
Landing on the feet or buttocks transmits force up through the spine. Falls from significant heights can fracture vertebrae and damage the spinal cord through compressive forces.
Direct Impact
Falling backward and striking the head or back on a hard surface can fracture the cervical or thoracic spine directly.
Hyperextension and Flexion
Violent forward or backward bending of the neck during a fall can damage the cervical spinal cord even without fracture.
Types of Falls That Cause Paralysis
Workplace Falls
Construction workers, roofers, window washers, and other workers at height face elevated risks:
- Falls from scaffolding—scaffold collapses and inadequate fall protection cause many spinal injuries
- Ladder falls—defective ladders or improper setup
- Falls from roofs—lack of harnesses, guardrails, or safety nets
- Falls into holes or trenches—unmarked excavations
Premises Liability Falls
Property owners must maintain reasonably safe conditions:
- Slip and falls—wet floors, icy sidewalks, loose rugs
- Trip hazards—uneven surfaces, debris, poor lighting
- Stairway falls—defective stairs, missing handrails, inadequate lighting
- Balcony and deck collapses—structural failures
Nursing Home Falls
Elderly residents are particularly vulnerable to spinal injuries from falls. Nursing homes that fail to properly supervise or assist residents may be liable for fall-related paralysis.
Proving Premises Liability
To hold a property owner liable, you must prove:
Dangerous Condition
The property had a dangerous condition that caused your fall—wet floor, broken stairs, inadequate lighting, etc.
Knowledge
The property owner knew or should have known about the danger. Actual knowledge means they were directly aware. Constructive knowledge means the condition existed long enough that a reasonable owner would have discovered it.
Failure to Act
The owner failed to fix the hazard, warn of its existence, or otherwise address the danger.
Causation
The dangerous condition caused your fall and resulting spinal cord injury.
Workplace Fall Claims
Workplace spinal cord injuries involve complex legal considerations:
Workers' Compensation
Workers' comp provides benefits regardless of fault but limits recovery:
- Medical expenses covered
- Disability payments (typically 2/3 of wages, subject to caps)
- No pain and suffering compensation
- No full lost wage recovery
For catastrophic injuries like paralysis, workers' comp alone is often grossly inadequate.
Third-Party Claims
You can sue parties other than your employer for full damages:
- Property owners—if you fell on property your employer didn't control
- General contractors—for unsafe job site conditions
- Equipment manufacturers—for defective scaffolds, ladders, harnesses
- Subcontractors—whose negligence created hazards
Third-party claims allow recovery of full lost wages, pain and suffering, and all other damages.
Common Liable Parties
Property Owners
Property owners owe varying duties depending on your status:
- Invitees (customers, tenants)—highest duty of care; must inspect and fix hazards
- Licensees (social guests)—must warn of known dangers
- Trespassers—limited duty, but children may receive special protection
Business Owners
Retail stores, restaurants, hotels, and other businesses must maintain safe premises for customers. Failure to clean spills, mark wet floors, or maintain walkways creates liability.
Employers
While typically limited to workers' comp, employers can face direct liability for intentional misconduct or gross negligence in some states.
Contractors and Subcontractors
Construction site injuries often involve multiple contractors sharing responsibility for safety.
Damages in Fall Injury Cases
Spinal cord injury damages from falls include:
- Medical expenses—emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, lifetime treatment
- Lost wages and earning capacity—often the largest component for young workers
- Home modifications—accessibility requirements
- Attendant care—personal assistance needs
- Pain and suffering—physical and emotional trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life—inability to participate in normal activities
Evidence for Fall Injury Claims
Critical evidence includes:
- Photographs—of the hazardous condition, the scene, your injuries
- Incident reports—employer or property owner documentation
- Witness statements—anyone who saw the fall or the hazard
- Maintenance records—showing prior knowledge of hazards
- Prior complaints—evidence of known problems
- Surveillance footage—businesses often have cameras
Evidence can disappear quickly—hazards get fixed, footage gets erased. Contact an attorney immediately after a fall injury.
Conclusion
Falls that cause spinal cord injuries often result from preventable hazards. Property owners and employers who fail to maintain safe conditions must be held accountable. Whether through premises liability, workers' compensation, or third-party claims, you deserve full compensation for paralysis caused by another's negligence.