By Michael Shemtoub, trial attorney, Beverly Law. Updated November 2026.
Spinal cord or back injury after an accident?
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Two data sets, two different questions
People searching this question often find numbers that seem to disagree. They come from two sources that measure different things.
The first is the 2013 Paralysis Prevalence & Health Disparities Survey, analyzed by CDC researchers and published in the American Journal of Public Health in 2016. It asked households whether anyone had difficulty moving their arms or legs, then asked the cause (AJPH full text). The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, which released the findings, says researchers surveyed more than 70,000 households (Reeve Foundation). It answers the question “what causes paralysis of any kind.”
The second is the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Its figures on causes cover all injuries reported to the center since 2015 (NSCISC FAQ). It answers a narrower question: “what causes spinal cord injuries.”
Causes of paralysis overall (2013 survey)
The survey estimated that about 5.4 million people, or 1.7% of the population, were living with paralysis (AJPH full text). The causes broke down this way:
| Cause | Share | Estimated people |
|---|---|---|
| Stroke | 33.7% | 1,804,850 |
| Spinal cord injury | 27.3% | 1,462,220 |
| Multiple sclerosis | 18.6% | 999,080 |
| Cerebral palsy | 8.3% | 445,880 |
| Other causes | 12.1% | 645,940 |
The federal Administration for Community Living, summarizing the CDC research in 2016, added that about three-quarters of people with paralysis were under 65, and just over 1 in 6 were employed (ACL). These figures are from 2013. No newer national survey of this size was found for this page.
Causes of spinal cord injury (NSCISC, 2026 data sheet)
For new traumatic spinal cord injuries since 2015, the NSCISC 2026 data sheet reports (NSCISC 2026):
| Cause | Share |
|---|---|
| Vehicle crashes | 37.1% |
| Falls | 32.5% |
| Violence | 15.2% |
| Sports | 7.6% |
| Medical or surgical | 3.8% |
| Other | 3.9% |
The mix is shifting. The NSCISC FAQ says the share caused by falls has increased steadily since 1973, violence rose through the early 1990s and has declined since, and sports injuries have been decreasing (NSCISC FAQ). The same 2026 sheet puts the average age at injury at 44.3 since 2015, up from 29 in the 1970s, and reports that about 78% of new cases are male.
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Why the spinal cord injury counts differ
The survey estimated about 1.46 million people paralyzed by spinal cord injury. NSCISC estimates about 311,560 people living with traumatic spinal cord injury, with a range of 261,168 to 399,079, and notes that its estimate rests on a model published in 1995 (NSCISC 2026). The two counts use different definitions and methods: one relies on household reports of difficulty moving the arms or legs, the other on a statistical model of traumatic injuries. They measure different groups, so it helps to check which one an article is quoting.
When to call 911
For a possible stroke, CDC recommends the B.E. F.A.S.T. check: balance loss, eye or vision changes, a drooping face, arm weakness and slurred speech, and calling 9-1-1 right away instead of driving to the hospital (CDC). CDC reports that more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke each year, and that stroke reduces mobility in more than half of survivors age 65 and older (CDC Stroke Facts).
After a crash or fall, Mayo Clinic advises assuming a head or neck injury is a spinal injury, keeping the person still and calling 911. Its warning signs include weakness or numbness in any part of the body, loss of bladder or bowel control and trouble breathing (Mayo Clinic). This page does not diagnose anyone. Get emergency care first.
What this means for your case
Most of the causes in the NSCISC table can involve someone else’s conduct: an unsafe driver, a trucking company, a property owner who left a hazard, or a medical error. A stroke is usually a medical event, so injury claims mostly come from the other causes. For crashes, our Los Angeles truck accident page explains how commercial vehicle cases work, and what qualifies as a spinal cord injury explains the medical terms you will see in the records.
If an injury was caused by another person’s carelessness, the filing deadline is generally two years in California (CCP 335.1) and Texas (CPRC 16.003) and three years in Washington (RCW 4.16.080). Texas cases are handled by the firm’s Texas-licensed attorneys, Joyce Ondich and John Efstathiou. The full process is in how to sue for a spinal cord injury, and the damages side is in what a spinal cord injury case is worth.
Common questions
Is spinal cord injury the most common cause of paralysis?
No. In the 2013 survey it ranked second, behind stroke. It was the cause for 27.3% of people living with paralysis.
What causes most spinal cord injuries?
Vehicle crashes, at 37.1% of new traumatic injuries since 2015, followed closely by falls at 32.5%, according to the NSCISC 2026 data sheet.
How many Americans live with paralysis?
The 2013 survey estimated nearly 5.4 million people, about 1.7% of the population.
Are falls becoming a bigger cause of spinal cord injury?
Yes. NSCISC reports that the share of injuries caused by falls has risen steadily since 1973.
Who is most likely to have a spinal cord injury?
In NSCISC data since 2015, about 78% of people with new injuries are male, and the average age at injury is 44.3. Beverly Law offers a free case review in English or Spanish at (310) 552-6959. You owe no fees or costs unless we win. You can read more in our injury law FAQs.
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Related pages
Sources
- Armour BS et al., Prevalence and Causes of Paralysis, United States, 2013, American Journal of Public Health 106(10):185 (stacks.cdc.gov)
- Armour BS et al., Prevalence and Causes of Paralysis, United States, 2013 (full text, hosted by the Christopher & Dana R (christopherreeve.org)
- Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Stats About Paralysis (christopherreeve.org)
- Administration for Community Living, CDC Research Finds Spinal Cord Injury is a Leading Cause of Paralysis in the United (acl.gov)
- NSCISC at UAB, Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Facts and Figures at a Glance (2026 SCI Data Sheet) (sites.uab.edu)
- NSCISC at UAB, Frequently asked questions (sites.uab.edu)
- CDC, Signs and Symptoms of Stroke (cdc.gov)
- CDC, Stroke Facts (cdc.gov)
- Mayo Clinic, Spinal cord injury, symptoms and causes (mayoclinic.org)
- Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1 (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003 (statutes.capitol.texas.gov)
- RCW 4.16.080 (app.leg.wa.gov)
Important: This page is general information, not legal or medical advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; talk to a lawyer about yours. Texas cases are handled by the firm’s Texas-licensed attorneys, Joyce Ondich and John Efstathiou. Last reviewed: November 7, 2026.