- Personal injury accidents can expose someone’s back to blunt-force trauma that can cause a spinal cord injury
- Spinal cord injuries can cause paralysis that affects a person’s ability to use their lower extremities, neck, arms, hands, and fingers
- Osteoporosis because of spinal cord injuries can weaken the bones and make them more prone to breaking
- Spinal cord injuries can cause someone to experience emotional pain and suffering that causes adverse effects on their quality of life
One of the severe injuries caused by personal injury accidents is spinal cord injuries. This injury can result from physical trauma damaging the vertebrae and spinal nerves. The spinal cord stretches from the lower part of the brain to the lower back. Any personal injury accident, such as a car, motorcycle, or pedestrian accident, can expose someone to impact there.
Spinal cord injuries can cause physical symptoms, such as intense pain, reduced mobility, difficulty breathing, and loss of bladder control. It can also result in long-term health consequences like paralysis, osteoporosis, muscle spasms, and mental health effects. A personal injury lawyer can help you hold an at-fault party accountable for spinal cord damages.
Paralysis Caused by Spinal Cord Injuries
Personal injury accidents can cause severe injuries by exposing people to physical trauma. A spinal cord injury is one of the most common types of severe personal injuries because accidents can expose the back to impact. Damage to the vertebrae and spinal nerves can result in a serious injury with long-term health consequences.
One significant long-term consequence of a spinal cord injury is paralysis. The damage to the spinal cord can affect its ability to carry signals from the brain to the rest of the body. Someone may not be able to move a part of their body due to a spinal cord injury. Paralysis can affect a person’s ability to move and feel a body part.
The following are the three types of paralysis caused by spinal cord injuries:
- High tetraplegia: Paralysis from the neck down that can affect breathing, movement, and bladder control
-
- Low tetraplegia: Paralysis below the neck that is not as severe as high tetraplegia
- Paraplegia: Paralysis of the lower extremities that can cause someone not to be able to walk
Spinal Cord Injuries Can Cause Osteoporosis
Spinal cord injuries can also cause someone to experience osteoporosis. This is a condition that can lead to the weakening of the bones. Severe injuries can affect the integrity and strength of the structure of the bones in the body. It can cause the bones to be more brittle and prone to breaking.
Osteoporosis is a common health condition suffered by older people as their bones wear down over a long life. However, a severe injury like a spinal cord injury can also cause broken bones through the weakening of the bones.
The Long-Term Consequences of a Spinal Cord Injury: Mental Health
Spinal cord injuries can also have a long-term effect on someone’s mental health. They will have to deal with the above long-term health consequences and can experience mental struggles because of the pain and restriction of their body.
Emotional pain and suffering can occur after suffering a spinal cord injury because of the emotional toll of living with a painful injury. A personal injury victim living with the trauma of the accident can experience negative mental health effects, such as depression, anxiety, fear, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Contact The Russo Firm for Help With Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim
At The Russo Firm, our personal injury lawyers have the experience necessary to help you through every step of the personal injury claim process. Spinal cord injuries can cause significant negative health effects, and our attorneys wish to help you recover financially from the impact of the severe injury.
Our experienced personal injury attorneys can help craft a personalized legal counsel plan and handle negotiations with an insurance company trying to deny, delay, or devalue your settlement. Contact us today for a free spinal cord injury consultation at (561) 270-0913 or leave a message on our online contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Cord Injuries
What Can Cause a Spinal Cord Injury?
Spinal cord injuries result from physical trauma to the back during a personal injury accident. These accidents can occur due to the negligence of another party and can expose someone to severe trauma. A blow to the back can damage the vertebrae and spinal nerves, resulting in a potentially severe spinal cord injury.
The following are some personal injury accidents that can cause a spinal cord injury:
- Car accident
- Bus accident
- Truck accident
- Bicycle accident
- Motorcycle accident
- Boat accident
- Pedestrian accident
- Slip and fall accident
Can You Hold Another Party Accountable for Spinal Cord Damages?
Those who suffer spinal cord injuries from personal injury accidents can experience damages that affect their physical health, financial situation, and mental health. These damages include medical bills, lost wages, and loss of enjoyment of life. A personal injury victim can file a civil claim for compensation for economic and non-economic damages.
They can file the claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. The liable party is the one who caused the personal injury accident through negligence and exposed someone to spinal cord damage. This can include motor vehicle drivers, product manufacturers, employers, and property owners.
Should You Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer After Suffering a Spinal Cord Injury?
Hiring a personal injury lawyer after suffering a spinal cord injury is essential. They have experience handling claims to help spinal cord injury victims pursue compensation for damages. They can use their experience, expertise, and resources to help you hold the at-fault party accountable for their negligence.
The following are some ways a personal injury lawyer can help after suffering a spinal cord injury:
- Calculate your damages
- Determine who caused your spinal cord injury
- Explain your state’s personal injury laws
- Collect evidence to prove the at-fault party’s liability
- Contact eyewitnesses and expert witnesses
- Negotiate a settlement
- Represent you in court
