Updated on: 11/7/2019
A teenage boy suffered a serious spinal cord injury after diving into the shallow end of a pool at a friend’s house. The 18-year-old is determined to recover from his injuries and has made a miraculous recovery thus far.
"I was conscious, but my arms and legs were not doing anything. You go into a state and you can't move, and you can't do anything for yourself," said Burns.
He suffered from a C5 spinal cord injury and his vertebrae broke into his spine. There was a huge possibility that he would be paralyzed. He went under spinal surgery a few days later and then moved to a rehab center.
"They said it was very unlikely that he would walk again, that what he was experiencing was permanent," the teen’s mother said.
The accident happened just in July and he is already heading home from the rehabilitation center. The boy who was deemed to be paralyzed, is walking on his own.
"My doctor asked me what I wanted. I said I wanted a full recovery," he said.
He's going home in half the expected time, with just four weeks of therapy.
"Whatever we asked him to do he would give 100 percent, and then he would ratchet up to 120 percent," said rehabilitation specialist.
The teenager says will never dive again – not even in 100 feet of water he says.
Spinal Cord Injury Statistics
Auto accidents cause 42.1 % of spinal cord injuries. More than 11,000 people suffer a spinal cord injury each year in the United States, while some victims will experience a full recovery, others will be completely and permanently paralyzed.
Car accidents are also frequently the cause of other serious back injuries such as a herniated disc. In both cases the accident victim may require surgery, years of treatment and physical therapy, and the injuries can completely change the life of the victim.
Free Legal Consultation For Spinal Cord Injury Victims
The award-winning personal injury lawyers at Davis Law Group have helped spinal cord injury victims get the compensation they deserve after an accident that was not their fault. Our attorneys are here to answer your questions and explain how hiring a lawyer might increase the chances of a favorable outcome in your case.
Call our office in Seattle at (206) 727-4000 or use the confidential contact form on this page to request a free legal consultation with our attorneys.