While car accidents are one of the most common ways in which people sustain spinal cord injuries, there are of course many other ways in which the injury can be inflicted. This past April a man visiting South Florida sustained a spinal cord injury when he was hit by a flying mattress as he walked down a street.
The mattress did not come out of nowhere. It was part of a load of furniture being transported by a truck. As the truck passed the man and his friend who were walking down a sidewalk, the mattress, along with its frame, detached from the load and struck the man in the head. After losing the portion of its load, the truck continued on.
In addition to the injury to his spine, the man also suffered a fractured skull. Because of his injuries the man, a construction worker, was transported to a local hospital. He was released after treatment and according to his wife has been recovering well. He is continuing to recover by receiving treatment from a rehabilitation center.
The most severe spinal injuries may result in permanent paraplegia or quadriplegia. While the man in this case does not appear to be facing that fate, all spinal injuries are arguably serious and potentially life changing. Pain can be a lingering issue and as is likely the case here, it may not be possible to return to one’s job.
Thus far the truck from which the mattress fell has not been identified. If it, along with its driver is, the man who was hurt may decide to try to seek financial compensation from the driver. Such compensation can be recouped in a successful personal injury lawsuit when it is determined that the negligence of another person is the cause of the injury.
Source: Fort Myers News-Press, “Man injured by airborne mattress, released from hospital,” April 12, 2012