Unfortunately, far too many spinal cord injuries are caused by preventable incidents. One of the most common causes of a spinal cord injury is a vehicle accident.
Those individuals who sustain a spinal cord injury of any severity type may have their life changed forever in the wake of the accident. The impacts of a spinal cord injury will depend on the level of the injury and the type of injury.
Individuals who have suffered a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence in a car accident claim or other kind of incident may be eligible to pursue a legal claim with the help of a West Palm Beach Spinal Cord Injury lawyer.
Kinds of Spinal Cord Injuries
There are two primary types of spinal cord injury known as incomplete and complete. An incomplete injury refers to there being some function with the body.
A person who has an incomplete spinal cord injury may be able to feel certain parts of the body that cannot be moved, have functioning ability on one side of a body but not the other or may be able to move one limb more than another one.
A complete injury, however, means that below the level of the injury, there is no bodily function in terms of a voluntary movement or sensation. In this situation, both sides of the body can be similarly affected.
The level of the injury causing the spinal cord damage can be helpful for predicting the types of the body that could be affected by loss of function and paralysis.
Neck injuries usually lead to quadriplegia. Injuries at the C5 level will often lead to control of the biceps and the shoulder but no control on the hand or wrist. Injuries above the C4 level may require more comprehensive intervention such as a ventilator for the person to breathe. C6 injuries, however, may allow a person to maintain control of his or her wrist without any hand function.
Also Read: Staggering Facts You Should Know about Burn and Spinal Cord Injuries
How Will a Spinal Cord Injury Impact a Victim?
Depending on the type of injury, the impacts can range significantly and only an experienced physician can evaluate your case to determine how a spinal cord injury may impact your life.
Understanding that you have a spinal cord injury is essential to receiving a proper diagnosis and consulting with medical professionals about next steps.
There are other side effects associated with spinal cord injuries including the not being able to regulate blood pressure properly, not being able to sweat below the level of the injury, chronic pain, low blood pressure and reduced control of body temperature. Across the United States, approximately 450,000 individuals are suffering with a spinal cord injury.
Every year, 12,000 new individuals sustain a spinal cord injury. Although a spinal cord injury can impact anyone, the vast majority of them or 82% impact men between the ages of 16 and 30. 36% of these spinal cord injuries are associated with a motor vehicle accident.
Bear in mind that there is no cure for spinal cord injury. Although medical research has progressed significantly in the last several years, individuals who suffer a spinal cord injury may have comprehensive medical treatments required as well as unknown impacts on their life.
This is why it is essential to consult with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after a spinal cord injury occurs. Getting help from an experienced attorney can help you determine the best route for pursuing compensation for your injury.
Contact An Expert West Palm Beach Personal Injury Attorney Today
If someone else’s negligence or recklessness on the road caused your spinal cord injury, you may be entitled to file a personal injury claim to receive compensation. This may be the only way to help you recover as much as possible and to protect your interests going forward.
You should never agree to anything involving the other party or his or her insurance company without retaining your own personal injury lawyer.
Spinal cord injuries can be complex and difficult to understand and you need an experienced attorney who will work hard to represent you as effectively as possible.
If you have already sustained a spinal cord injury, you need help from an experienced attorney. Reach out to our law offices today to learn more.