A cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted to estimate the direct costs for each cause of spinal cord injury in the United States. Random samples of 227 new injuries and 508 persons 2-16 years postinjury were selected. Prospective data were collected during one year on all charges for emergency medical services, hospitalizations, attendant care, equipment, supplies, medications, environmental modifications, physician and outpatient services, nursing homes, household assistance, vocational rehabilitation, and miscellaneous items. In 1995 dollars, first year charges averaged $233,947 for vehicle crashes, $217,868 for violence, $295,643 for sports, $185,019 for falls and $208,762 for other causes. Recurring annual charges for each cause averaged $33,439, $17,275, $27,488, $26,238 and $23,510, respectively. Using average age at time of injury for each cause, a 2% real discount rate, and the most recent survival data from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, average lifetime charges for each cause were $969,659, $613,345, $950,973, $630,453 and $673,749, respectively. Given an estimated 10,000 new cases of spinal cord injury occurring each year of which 35.9% are caused by vehicle crashes, 29.5% are caused by violence, 20.3% are caused by falls, 7.3% are caused by sports, and 7% result from other causes, annual aggregate direct costs of traumatic spinal cord injury in the United States are $3.48 billion for vehicle crashes, $1.81 billion for violence, $1.28 billion for falls, $694 million for sports and $472 million for other causes. Total direct costs for all causes of SCI in the United States are $7.736 billion.