It can be life-changing if you experience a spinal injury in a car accident. Any trauma to your thoracic, lumbar, or cervical spine can sever or damage the spinal cord, leading to paralysis from the neck or waist down.
After experiencing a spinal injury, the treatment you receive can also impact any lawsuit you file. For example, your treatment plan will outline the ongoing care and losses you will experience because of this incident.
After experiencing this type of injury in a car accident, you will likely be in pain and focused on your recovery. However, you must act quickly to file a car accident claim to avoid missing important deadlines. At Nelson Personal Injury, LLC, we can take care of the legal aspect of your case while you focus on your recovery.
Understanding the Human Spine
There are three main parts of your spine. These include:
- The cervical spine, which includes your neck and upper back.
- The thoracic spine is found at the mid-part of your back, about the same area as your lungs.
- The lumbar spine, which is your lower back.
If part of your spine is injured, the consequences will likely be seen in the areas of your body below the injury site on your spine. This is why injuries that occur higher on the spine (especially close to the neck) are so serious. If the injury occurs high on the back or neck, it can result in paralysis or quadriplegia from the neck down.
After being involved in an accident, you should seek immediate medical treatment if you believe you have injured your back or spine in any way. This is the best way to avoid permanent damage to the spine and to maximize the possibility of a full recovery.
Types of Spine Injuries That Can Occur in a Car Accident
Spinal injuries from car accidents will impact one of the three parts of the spine (described above). If it impacts or severs the spinal cord, which is the housing for the nerves connecting the brain and the rest of the body, the injury may cause paralysis.
Cases of paralysis involve permanent damage to the nerves in the spinal cord and the spinal cord itself. This can cause the loss of sensation, the inability to control movement, and the disruption of other body functions below the injury site.
If the injury involves the complete or almost complete loss of motor and sensory function, it is called “complete” paralysis. If some motor or sensory function remains, it is called “incomplete” paralysis.
The bones of the spine commonly identify the injuries (vertebrae) impacted. Usually, this corresponds with the part of the body that has lost sensation or function; however, there can be indirect consequences of the injury that impact organs and systems throughout the body.
How Does a Car Accident Cause Spinal Injuries?
The forces of impact that are involved in a car accident can cause trauma to the spine, the nerves in the spinal cord, and the spinal cord. The force of impact from the collision does not have to be violent or severe to result in this type of injury or paralysis. Factors that can result in a spinal injury in a car accident also include if someone’s head was turned, the position of their seat in the vehicle, the gender, weight, and height of the individual, and if the person had other back or spine issues before the accident.
Signs You Experienced a Spinal Injury in a Car Accident
If you were involved in a car accident and experienced any of the symptoms listed here, you likely suffered a spinal injury. You need to seek immediate medical evaluation.
Some of the signs of a spinal cord injury in a car accident include the following:
- Numbness
- Muscle weakness
- Unable to feel the temperature
- Loss of motion
- Issues breathing
- Muscle spasms
- Sexual dysfunction
- Loss of sense of touch
- Tingling sensation
- Pain along your spine
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Issues with digestion
If you experience these symptoms, you need to seek treatment immediately.
Contact Our Legal Team for Help with Your Spinal Injury Claim
Spinal injuries can be life-changing. If you experience this type of injury in a car accident, you have the right to file a legal claim against the at-fault party. Contact our legal team at Nelson Personal Injury, LLC, for help pursuing a claim. We will ensure you get the maximum compensation you are entitled to.
The first step is to call our office to schedule a free consultation.
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