A spinal cord injury after a car crash can change every part of your life, from strength and mobility to your work and family life. Car crashes are a leading cause of spinal cord injuries, and symptoms may not show up right away, so prompt medical care and good records both matter.
What Is the Most Common Cause of Spinal Cord Injuries?
According to the Mayo Clinic, car crashes are the most common cause of spinal cord injuries in the United States, accounting for over 50% of all spinal cord injuries each year. The second most common cause is falls, followed, in order, by acts of violence, sports and recreation injuries, and diseases, such as cancer, arthritis, or osteoporosis.
Records After a Crash-Related Spinal Cord Injury
If you are thinking about a claim, keep these records together:
- Medical records from emergency care, surgery and follow-up treatment
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy records
- Records showing time missed from work or changes to your job
- Records of support needs, such as home care, mobility equipment or changes to your home
To learn how these losses are valued, see What Affects the Value of a Colorado Car Crash Claim? and Economic and Noneconomic Damages in Colorado.
What Are the Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury?
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of a spinal cord injury may include loss of movement; loss or alteration of sensations, including the ability to feel heat, cold, and touch; loss of bowel or bladder control; exaggerated reflex activities or spasms; changes in sexual function, sexual sensitivity, and fertility; pain or an intense stinging sensation caused by damage to the nerve fibers in your spinal cord; and difficulty breathing, coughing or clearing secretions from your lungs. In addition to those possible symptoms, signals of an emergency with the spinal cord following a crash include extreme back pain or pressure in your neck, head, or back; weakness, incoordination, or paralysis in any part of your body; numbness, tingling, or loss of sensation in your hands, fingers, feet or toes; difficulty with balance and walking; and an oddly positioned or twisted neck or back.
Long-Term Effects and Losses to Document
Injury to the spinal cord, which is defined as damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal, can affect all aspects of your life. Strength, sensation, mobility and even mental and emotional health can all be adversely affected by a spinal cord injury. Any level of disability can change your work life, your family life, and your social life. Currently, repair of spinal cord injuries is not possible, but physical therapy and other treatments may help victims of these injuries live independently and be productive.
Do the Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injury Always Show Up Right Away?
Spinal cord injuries sustained in a crash may not cause symptoms right away. Sometimes, symptoms are subtle or build over time. Unfortunately, not getting immediate treatment and diagnosis for a spinal cord injury can lead to further injury and increased severity. If signs of a spinal cord injury show up after a crash, even if it seems like it has been too long to be related, remember that symptoms can be delayed and that getting medical attention as soon as possible is imperative.
Related Reading
- Delayed Symptoms After a Car Crash: 6 Signs to Discuss
- What Affects the Value of a Colorado Car Crash Claim?
- Economic and Noneconomic Damages in Colorado
Talk to Greer Law Group About a Spinal Cord Injury
If you suffered a spinal cord injury in a crash, contact our law office to see if you may be eligible for compensation. Contact us online or call 303-331-6460.
