Spine Injuries From Car Accidents

Understanding Spine Injuries From a Car Accident and How a Lawyer Can Help

Spine injuries are hard to miss.

They can cause incredible pain, leading to immobilization and difficulty even breathing.

There are many types of spine injuries that can result from a serious car accident, and no two situations are the same.

If you’ve hurt your spine in an auto accident, you may be unsure of what to do next. Our firm has helped many people like you pursue the full compensation available under the law.

Contact a Denver spinal cord injury lawyer to discuss your case today. We offer free consultations.

Common Spine Injuries From Car Accidents

The spinal column runs from the base of the skull all the way to your tailbone. The column consists of 33 vertebrae surrounding the spinal cord, which transmits neural signals from the brain to the rest of the body (and sends signals back again).

In a traumatic auto accident, it is easy to damage a part of the spinal cord or column.

Common car accident injuries include:

• Whiplash. This is a soft-tissue injury that damages the tendons in the neck.
• Herniated disc. Rubbery discs sit in between the vertebrae to provide a cushion. A disc can be displaced or broken open and extrude the soft material in the middle. The disc can then press on nerves or even the spinal cord.
• Spinal fracture. An accident can crack any of the vertebrae, leading to intense pain.
• Spondylolisthesis. Vertebrae can slip out of place and push on the bone below. Spondylolisthesis often affects the bones in the lower back.
• Spinal stenosis. Any narrowing in the spaces within your spine can put pressure on the spinal cord, leading to numbness, weakness, and pain.
• Spinal cord damage. Any tearing, nicking, bruising, or stretching of the spinal cord can result in impaired movement and sensation. A person might be permanently paralyzed in the body below the injury site.

If you have suffered a car accident spine injury, you should notice symptoms within a day or two.

Find a doctor immediately for an evaluation.

Treating a Spinal Injury From a Car Accident

The treatment you need will depend on the type of injury you suffered. Something like whiplash or a herniated disc could respond to rest, painkillers, and physical therapy.

Other injuries might require expensive surgery to replace or strengthen the damaged spinal column.

Paralysis is often the hardest to treat. If the spinal cord has been completely severed, then you will probably be permanently paralyzed. However, innovative treatments are always in the pipeline, so accident victims should not give up hope.

The key to a patient’s recovery will be developing a support network. Many spouses and other family members express exhaustion since a spinal injury affects the entire family. Talk to a medical provider about different support networks that exist for victims and their families.

Speak to a Car Accident Spine Injury Lawyer Today

Spinal column injuries are often very expensive to treat. At Denver Trial Lawyers ®, we focus on maximizing a client’s compensation in either a settlement or in a lawsuit.

To learn more about your car accident spine injuries, please contact us online or call (303) 647-9990 today.

We offer a free, confidential consultations.

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