A car accident can lead to catastrophic injury, and one of the most common injuries is spinal cord damage. Catastrophic injuries are life-altering by nature, and few are more life-altering than spinal cord injuries. They are characterized by pain, loss of mobility, and exorbitant medical expenses. Not all vehicle crashes are the same, and while some minor collisions can result in unfortunate spinal damage, these injuries are more common in high-velocity crashes.
Why are Spinal Injuries Common in Auto Accidents?
Car accidents often lead to spinal damage because your body is banged about in a crash, and these sudden blows damage the spinal cord and the sensitive tissues around it, like discs, vertebrae, and ligaments. Depending on the speed and final resting place of a vehicle post-crash, a spinal cord could be severed, crushed, or dislocated. Car accidents are variable incidents, and they don’t always end the same way, even when the conditions are similar. Spinal cord damage in one high-velocity crash can be minor, but a similar crash could just as easily create irreparable damage to the spinal cord and nervous system. The intensity of the trauma experienced in a car crash and the way a body impacts its surroundings will be the ultimate determining factor in a spinal injury.
What is a Spinal Cord?
A spinal cord is a bundle of cylindrical nervous tissues housed in a long bone. The long bone is the vertebrae, and it is an extremely sensitive body part that, when damaged, can leave lasting trauma. Car accidents commonly result in spinal injuries. From the cord to the bone to the disc, spinal injuries cause victims to experience long periods of severe pain and suffering.
A spinal injury can leave a person with long-term injuries and disabilities, including:
- Paralysis
- Loss of feeling
- Spasms
- Pain
- Coughs
- Breathing Issues
- Bowel & Bladder Control
Spinal injuries are complex and require intricate medical care and high levels of physical therapy. Car accident victims may need years of treatment to recover, and some may never fully recover. When the damage caused by a spinal injury is permanent, a patient can receive therapy to learn to manage their new limitations, but they may need living assistance and mobility devices for the rest of their life. In addition to the limited mobility a spinal injury can cause, it can also lead to a loss of income and ability to work in any capacity.
Tips for Avoiding Serious Injuries in a Car Accident
No one plans to get in a car accident, so the best way to protect yourself while operating a vehicle or riding as a passenger is to adhere to safety best practices. You can reduce your risk of injury by taking a few safety precautions, like:
- Seatbelts should always be worn. The saying is, no matter how far, no matter which car, you should always buckle up.
- Ensure any children riding in a car are in the safest seat suggested by medical professionals and safety experts. If a child is old enough to wear a booster seat or seat belt, ensure they are wearing them correctly.
- When your car receives maintenance or scheduled services, have your airbags checked to ensure they are in good condition and not faulty.
If you’ve been the victim of a car accident that wasn’t your fault and you sustained injuries, you may be entitled to compensation. Reach out to Pittman Law Firm, P.L. at (239) 603-6913 to schedule a free initial consultation to get started on your claim and learn more about what our skilled team can do for you.