A Look at the Most Common Types of Spinal Injuries From Car Accidents

Car accidents can result in a variety of wounds, but among the most catastrophic are spinal injuries. These cause pain and mobility issues so severe that they can prevent you from living your life normally while also requiring extensive medical care.

The most common types of spinal injuries that can result from auto accidents include the following:

Whiplash

Whiplash is an injury that occurs when your head moves rapidly back and forth in a collision, straining your neck muscles in the process. It’s a soft tissue injury that can cause discomfort and stiffness.

Herniated Discs

Herniated discs are spinal injuries that occur when the jelly-like center of the discs that separate your spinal vertebrae bulges out. Pain is usually the first sign, but there could be other symptoms that warn you of such an injury, including numbness or tingling in your limbs, neck pain, and muscle weakness.

Spinal Fractures

The force of a car crash can go beyond simply causing your discs to bulge and instead fracture the vertebrae in your back outright.

These injuries can be stable or unstable; stable injuries are those in which the vertebra remains in place and doesn’t compromise the overall stability of the spine. Your spine can still carry weight and function, though you will experience serious pain.

Unstable fractures, on the other hand, are much more severe. These occur when the fractured vertebra shifts out of place. These are more likely to result in paralysis and nerve damage, thus requiring major surgery.

Spinal Cord Damage

As the spinal cord houses the nerves and nerve fibers that send and receive signals from the brain, suffering damage to the spinal cord itself puts you at risk of developing paraplegia, which involves paralysis of the legs or lower body, or quadriplegia, which is paralysis of all limbs. These injuries and conditions can occur because of direct trauma to the cord or over time as a result of continuous swelling and bleeding in the area.

Chronic Back Pain

Sustaining spinal injuries of any sort can leave you battling chronic back pain, which can become debilitating enough that it prevents you from working in the same capacity as you once did and enjoying your life as you used to.

Importance of Immediate Medical and Legal Help

After suffering an injury in a car accident, it’s essential that you receive fast medical care. You may not realize the severity of the injury you suffered, and that could put you at risk of exacerbating the problem. Medical professionals will be able to spot the signs of a spinal cord injury and provide the support you need.

At the same time, it’s vital that you contact a spinal injury attorney to assist you with filing a personal injury claim. You will need substantial compensation if you have suffered such a life-altering injury, so you should not attempt these claims alone, lest you risk receiving a far lower settlement than you deserve.

With a spinal injury lawyer, you can focus on healing as they collect substantial evidence, such as footage from traffic cameras, witness statements, and the police report of the accident. Additionally, you can leave all of the negotiating to your counsel.

FAQ

Am I Required to Hire a Lawyer for a Spinal Injury?

You’re not required to have a lawyer when you begin a claim for a spinal injury from a car accident, but it’s always in your best interests to have representation anyway, as there are specific deadlines to file a case under the law. These cases are simply too complex to attempt alone.

What Damages Can I Seek for a Spinal Injury in South Carolina?

With help from experienced auto accident lawyers, you can pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, emotional and physical suffering, and a loss of enjoyment of life.

Begin Your Car Accident Claim With Help From Clore Law

Clore Law can assist you if you have sustained a serious injury in a crash. Contact us to schedule a free consultation.