Although serious car accidents are a major cause of spinal cord injuries, they aren’t the only culprit. Spinal cord injuries are also commonly caused by motorcycle accidents and slip and fall accidents too. More than 86,000 Canadians are currently living with a spinal cord injury according to Rick Hansen Institute.
In the United States, our neighbours to the south experience a disproportionate number of men being involved in spinal cord accidents with women only accounting for 20% of the same accidents. Moreover, spinal injuries can have more devastating consequences for the elderly and those over 65 since their bodies are weaker and frailer. Spinal cord injury victims experience a wide range of debilitating day-to-day issues including education, employment and mobility discrimination.