What Are the Effects of Spinal Cord Injuries in a Texas Car Accident?
Each year in Texas, around 15,000 people suffer serious, incapacitating injuries in car accidents, leaving them temporarily or permanently unable to walk or perform other activities as they did before the crash. Some of the most severe incapacitating injuries involve damage to the victim’s spinal cord. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury due to another driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to substantial compensation.
Physical Limitations From Spinal Cord Injuries
In a car crash, spinal cord injuries are most likely to happen due to the crushing force of the collision between vehicles, or subsequent impacts when a vehicle enters a rollover or a driver or passenger is ejected from the vehicle. Because the spinal cord contains nerves that control a wide range of bodily functions, damage to the spinal cord can have far-reaching physical effects. These include:
- Pain and stinging – Lesser nerve damage may initially result in sharp pains and intense discomfort.
- Numbness and loss of sensation – Serious damage to the spinal cord can result in decreased sensitivity to touch and temperature, and in some cases, a total loss of feeling in the body parts affected.
- Paralysis – Severe spinal cord injuries may also limit a person’s motor abilities, in some cases causing total paralysis from the neck or waist down.
- Impairment of internal organs and body systems – The effects of spinal cord injuries can extend to the digestive, urinary, circulatory, and respiratory systems.
Spinal cord damage is very difficult to reverse, but it is possible to prevent further damage by seeking immediate medical attention after an accident and avoiding movement until medical professionals arrive to ensure you are safely transported to a hospital.
Compensation for Damages
The severe, life-altering effects of spinal cord injuries mean that victims may need to pursue compensation for a variety of damages. These include:
- Medical expenses – These may encompass the costs of emergency surgery, ambulance and hospital care, medication, and rehabilitation to restore as much strength, mobility, and sensation as possible, which may last for many months or years.
- Lost income and earning capacity – Spinal cord injury victims are not only likely to miss time at work after an accident while they receive treatment and begin the recovery process, but they also may never be capable of performing their job responsibilities from before the crash, meaning that their earning ability may be permanently reduced.
- Pain and suffering – The loss of movement and sensation can result in stress and hardship in a person’s daily life, taking a toll on their mental health and making it more difficult for them to find enjoyment.
After an accident, thoroughly documenting your treatment and condition can help you build a case for the full compensation you deserve.
Contact a New Braunfels Personal Injury Lawyer
At The Bettersworth Law Firm, we understand the catastrophic impact that a spinal cord injury can have on your life, and we can help you recover the compensation you need to help you cope with the changes and make up for your losses. For a free consultation, contact a New Braunfels car crash attorney today at 830-443-9193.
Sources:
https://ftp.txdot.gov/pub/txdot-info/trf/crash_statistics/2019/13.pdf
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/spinal-cord-injury/symptoms-causes/syc-20377890
https://medlineplus.gov/spinalcordinjuries.html
