| Any impact violent enough to impair the spinal cord | | | | held liable for your injuries in court and forced to pay |
| will result in spinal cord injuries. Spinal injuries often | | | | for the costs of your continued spinal injury |
| require emergency medical procedures and may | | | | treatment and rehabilitation costs. |
| result in permanent, life-long damage. A spinal cord | | | | Spinal Injuries and Car Accidents |
| impairment may include bruising, tearing, or swelling of | | | | In a car accident, spinal injuries are often caused by |
| the spinal cord, and even a slight impairment may | | | | sharp or jerking motions as well as trauma. This may |
| require major medical attention. | | | | lead to the vertebrae in your spine being compacted, |
| The spinal cord is the go-between for the brain and | | | | dislocated, or even fractured, which can also impact |
| the body, controlling movement, sensation, and other | | | | the nerves near that area. |
| vital body components. Spinal injuries often disrupt | | | | Some symptoms of spinal injuries that may occur |
| the process of communication between the brain and | | | | directly after your car accident include: |
| body, and a serious car accident can cause damage | | | | Severe back pain |
| to the spinal cord ranging from specific loss of motor | | | | Numbness in your extremities |
| functions to complete or partial paralysis. | | | | Difficulty breathing |
| Long-term Treatment of Spinal Injuries | | | | Difficulty walking and/or balancing |
| The prognosis for victims of car accident injuries that | | | | Loss of bladder control |
| include spinal cord injuries has improved over the past | | | | While severe spinal cord injuries are usually felt |
| 20 years; however, spinal injuries are very complex | | | | immediately following the trauma that caused it, |
| and may result in permanent damage. | | | | some symptoms of spinal injuries may not appear for |
| The medical costs associated with spinal injuries can | | | | days or weeks following your accident. That is why |
| also be extraordinary. For example, paraplegic spinal | | | | seeking immediate treatment after a car accident is |
| cord injuries that require life-long treatment can | | | | so important. Early detection of spinal cord injuries |
| average $425,000 a person. | | | | can prevent you from accidentally worsening your |
| Long-term care for spinal cord injuries may include: | | | | injury and help you receive the treatment you need. |
| pain medicine | | | | Seeking Compensation for Your Spinal Injury |
| bladder and bowel medications | | | | If you have sustained a serious spinal cord injury |
| surgeries | | | | after a car accident caused by another person, you |
| rehabilitation therapies | | | | should not have to go into debt paying for the |
| home aids | | | | expensive medical bills and treatment that |
| medical equipment | | | | accompany a spinal injury. Contacting a personal |
| home renovations (installing a wheelchair ramp, | | | | injury lawyer in your area can help you understand |
| wheelchair-accessible shower, and other | | | | your legal rights, and if necessary, file a personal |
| considerations) | | | | injury lawsuit against the negligent parties involved to |
| If your spinal injury was the result of a car accident | | | | recover compensation for your medical bills, lost |
| caused by someone else's negligence, they can be | | | | wages, and other quality of life issues. |