Many catastrophic injuries can occur in a car crash. One of these is a spinal cord injury. These injuries can be minor in some cases, but they can also lead to life-long paralysis.
Understanding a few points about spinal cord injuries may help victims and their family members.
1: Symptoms may be severe at first
Spinal shock can occur in the initial days of the injury. This is due to the body’s natural response to the injury. As the swelling begins to abate, the symptoms may start to lessen. Immediate medical care can help to minimize the effects of the injury. Once the patient’s basic life functions are stable, the medical team will begin to treat the spinal cord injury. Until that point, the spinal cord is typically stabilized to prevent more damage.
2: Location impacts effects
Spinal cord injuries always impact the area of the body below the area of the damage. This means that people who have injuries higher on the spinal cord will have a greater area of the body affected. For example, a neck injury can impact both arms and legs; however, a lower back injury would only affect the legs.
3: Recovery varies greatly
Recovery from a spinal cord injury depends on the type of the injury. Injuries are classified as complete or incomplete. Because complete injuries involve a full severing of the spinal nerves, complete recovery is less likely. In an incomplete injury, there are still some nerves connected, which leaves more chance of a better recovery.
Victims of car wrecks who suffer from a spinal cord injury may opt to pursue a compensation claim from the liable party to help cover the damages. The law limits the time frame for filing personal injury claims, so victims should act swiftly.
