Spinal cord injuries usually result from a traumatic event like a car accident, and can significantly change many aspects of a person's life. However, legal options exist to help people get the medical treatment and rehabilitation they need to live as independently as possible after suffering spinal cord injuries in accidents caused by other people's negligence.
The spinal cord is a group of nerves running from the base of the brain that carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body. Spinal cord injury often causes permanent loss of movement, control and sensation below the site of the injury because of disruptions in nerve communication.
Spinal Cord Injury Causes
Spinal cord injury can be caused by the force of a severe blow to the spine that fractures, crushes, compresses or dislocates one or more vertebrae, resulting in a bruise or partial or complete tearing of the spinal cord. Further damage usually results from bleeding, swelling or fluid accumulation near the spinal cord in reaction to a traumatic injury. Although it is less common than traumatic spinal cord injury, non-traumatic spinal cord injury can be caused by arthritis, cancer, degeneration of the spine or infection.
The Mayo Clinic reports that motor-vehicle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries for people younger than 65 years old. The risk of spinal cord injury is greatest for people aged 16 to 30, especially when riding motorcycles because of the lack of protection they provide in a crash.
In addition, Stanford Hospital reports that about 12,000 people sustain spinal cord injuries each year. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common causes of spinal cord injury are:
- Car accidents: Car and motorcycle accidents account for more than 40 percent of all spinal cord injuries every year.
- Falls: Spinal cord injuries from falls constitute about 25 percent of spinal cord injuries; they are more common among people over age 65.
- Gunshot and stab wounds: The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke states that up 15 percent of spinal cord injuries result from these acts of violence.
- Sports Injuries: Sport and recreational activities like football, swimming and rugby cause about 8 percent of spinal cord injuries.
Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms
The signs of a spinal cord injury include:
- Loss of sensation or voluntary muscle movement in the chest, arms or legs
- Loss of bladder and bowel function
- Exaggerated reflex actions or spasms
- Difficulty breathing
- Intense pain or stinging in the head, neck or back
- An abnormally positioned neck or back
These may be symptoms of other medical conditions, too, so it is important to contact emergency medical services after an accident and to consult a doctor for a diagnosis.
Types of Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injuries vary in degree and severity depending on the location and completeness of the injury to the nerves. An injury to upper part of the spinal cord may cause loss of function and sensation in the arms and legs, known medically as tetraplegia (formerly quadriplegia). Damage to the lower portion of the spinal cord may result in loss of function and sensation in the legs and lower body, called paraplegia.
In addition, injuries may result in complete or incomplete damage to the spinal cord. An injury is considered incomplete when the individual retains some muscle control or sensory function below the injured area of the spinal cord. Conversely, an injury is complete or total when the individual loses all feeling and movement control below the level of the spinal cord injury.
Spinal Cord Injury Treatment
Treatment of a spinal cord injury is unique depending on the individual's injury. However, treatment often requires long-term hospital care and rehabilitation. According to Stanford Hospital, surgery is common following traumatic spinal cord injury to stabilize fractured bones, release pressure on the spinal cord and treat any other injuries sustained in the accident.
Other treatments of spinal cord injury may include:
- Medical care in an intensive care unit
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Ventilator use
- Feeding-tube use
- Catheter and collection-bag use
People with spinal cord injuries usually receive treatment from teams of doctors, nurses, physical therapists, psychologists, dieticians and social workers. This coordinated care, while necessary to achieve the best possible outcomes, can become extremely expensive for a lifetime of treatment.
Someone who suffers spinal cord injury in a traumatic event like a car accident may be entitled to compensation for his or her injuries and the cost of medical treatment and rehabilitation. If the accident resulted from another person's negligence, the injured person may be able to make a claim against the at-fault person (and his or her insurance company) for damages in a personal-injury lawsuit.
When working with insurance companies following an accident, though, someone with a spinal cord injury should be wary of accepting a settlement offer from an insurance company without the assistance of knowledgeable attorney. Insurance companies operate by keeping their payouts low, and a company's initial settlement offer likely will be far less than the injured person requires and should be receiving.
If you suffered spinal cord injury in an accident, don't let an insurance company pressure you into accepting its settlement offer. Call an experienced personal injury attorney to get the compensation you deserve.
