Certain types of car crash injuries can forever change the course of an individual’s life. Brain injuries and amputations can affect people’s careers and cause massive medical expenses. Spinal cord injuries are also a serious concern for those involved in car crashes. Collisions are among the leading causes of these life-altering injuries.
A spinal cord injury could result in permanent physical impairments. People associate spinal cord injuries with paralysis or an inability to move their lower extremities. In some cases, people lose function in all of their limbs because the injury is high on the spine. Spinal cord injuries also cause a complete loss of sensation.
Those with spinal cord injuries typically have serious functional limitations and can expect a lifetime of increased care costs. Is it possible for people with spinal cord injuries to walk away from the car crash that injured them?
Incomplete injuries are a common occurrence
Not all spinal cord injuries completely sever the spinal cord. Sometimes, they cause partial damage. An incomplete spinal cord injury involves physical trauma that pinches, tears or compresses the spinal cord. Even an incomplete injury can cause many debilitating symptoms.
People may experience functional impairments. They are also at risk of over-exerting themselves or sustaining a secondary trauma that worsens their spinal cord injury. A sudden stop while riding in a vehicle or a same-level fall could have devastating consequences for people with incomplete spinal cord injuries.
Individuals with incomplete spinal cord injuries can often move their lower extremities. They may notice intense pain, or they may not have any immediately obvious symptoms. The chemical reaction in the body after a physical trauma can cover up the early warning signs of a traumatic injury. People who may have damaged their spinal cords in a crash could exit their vehicles without help and might even assume they don’t have any serious injuries.
The possibility of incomplete and stable injuries makes seeking out medical attention after a crash of the utmost importance. People who get the right medical interventions can limit their chances of worsening their injuries and may also be able to undergo treatment that can improve their long-term prognosis.
Knowing what steps to take after a car crash can help people protect themselves physically and may pave the way for a compensation claim to cover lost wages and medical expenses.