A car accident can cause several different types of injuries. While lacerations and whiplash could prove to be initially painful, these types of injuries will heal rather quickly. Unfortunately, more severe injuries like those to the accident victim’s spinal cord can have devastating lifelong effects. Some are left to cope with chronic pain while others may require constant care due to mobility issues. A spinal cord injury will definitely cause lifestyle changes for some time.
If you’ve suffered a severe injury, Get in touch with a Bridgeport car accident lawyer. During a free consultation, one of their compassionate attorneys can assess your claim and determine the best course of action. Without the guidance of an experienced car accident lawyer, justice and compensation can be just out of reach.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries Common to Car Accidents
The impact of a vehicular collision can cause physical damage to the vehicle and its occupants. Many car accident victims suffer from spinal cord injuries and some of them can force severe lifestyle adjustments upon those with these types of injuries. Unfortunately, spinal cord conditions are all too common in car crashes. Here’s a look at the most common conditions after a car accident.
- Herniated discs – This painful condition occurs when the discs of the spinal cord are displaced. A sudden, jarring impact can damage the discs creating numbness, shooting pain, or a tingling sensation. The disc’s gel-like interior spills out, irritating the spinal nerves.
- Spinal fractures – Spinal fractures can be caused by a sudden impact that can occur from a serious car accident. Blunt force trauma can fracture or even shatter the bones of the spinal column causing extreme pain.
- Spondylolisthesis – Violent, jarring movements that can occur during the moment of impact during a car collision can cause the spine’s vertebrae to be pushed out of place in the lower back. This causes them to push on the nerves of the spine and cause the accident victim to experience chronic back pain and/or leg numbness.
Many types of spinal cord injuries due to a car accident can leave victims with lifelong chronic back pain. On the worse end of the spectrum, some may cause paraplegia, a loss of mobility in the victim’s legs and/or arms. Those with paraplegia will have to make lifelong lifestyle adjustments.
Legal Ramifications of Spinal Cord Injuries Post-Car Accident
Unfortunately, a spinal cord injury caused by a car accident can leave victims with chronic pain for a lifetime. Many will have a long and difficult road ahead of them that could require multiple surgeries and extensive pain management treatment. Those left with a permanent disability may never be able to return to their jobs. This is the sad reality of spinal cord injuries.
The victims of spinal cord injuries caused by a car accident do have the legal right to seek compensation from the negligent party who caused the accident. However, the burden of proving negligence, injury, and damages is placed upon them. To receive the maximum compensation for damages, victims will need the negotiation savvy of an experienced personal injury lawyer who can assist them with gathering the required evidence and facing the defendant’s insurance company’s team of legal representation.
A personal injury attorney can help victims to:
- File a personal injury lawsuit
- Gather strong evidence to support their claims
- Fight for the maximum compensation for all of their damages
Types of Damages for Post-Car Accident Spinal Cord Injuries
Being the victim of a car crash that wasn’t your fault, you shouldn’t be responsible for the financial hardships that come from your spinal cord injuries. One of the benefits of working with an experienced car accident lawyer is that they’ll ensure that all of your damages are compensated and not just the obvious ones like your medical bills. The ramifications of a spinal cord injury are far-reaching and could have lifelong expenses. Here’s a look at some of the often-overlooked damages you should be seeking.
- Loss of earnings capacity
- The cost of long-term medical treatment
- Loss of future earnings and benefits
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Travel expenses to medical appoints, current and expected
- Any costs relating to home modifications due to your injury
- Housekeeping, lawn care, and other expenses for tasks you can no longer perform
Spinal Cord Injuries and Your Rights as a Victim: Key Takeaways
A severe car accident can cause severe spinal cord injuries. As the victim of a catastrophic crash, your life could be forever altered. Many spinal cord victims will face a lifetime of treatments and chronic pain. This is the unfortunate reality for those with injuries to the spine.
Working with an experienced car accident lawyer can help to ensure that you’re fully compensated for your damages. A savvy attorney will look beyond your basic medical bills and will seek to recover damages that you could incur years in the future. Never attempt to file a personal injury case on your own. Without a legal professional’s guidance, you won’t recover all that’s due to you.
