After you’ve been in a car accident, walking away with no injuries is always ideal. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Sustaining a spinal injury is one of the most severe types of injuries that can result from a car crash. If you’ve suffered an injury to the spinal region, you won’t only experience pain and general discomfort, but sometimes even paralysis.
Spinal injuries can come in various forms. Some spinal injuries that victims may experience are:
Whiplash
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries car crash victims experience. While whiplash typically affects the head/neck region, it can also have a great impact on the spine. The effects of whiplash can last a lifetime, resulting in chronic pain and distress for the victim.
Herniated and Ruptured Disc
Auto accidents can cause discs in your spine to shift, tear, and even rupture, resulting in numbness and pain throughout specific areas of the body.
Fractured Vertebrae
There are 33 individual, interlocking bones that comprise the vertebrae which span throughout the spine. When even one of these vertebrae are fractured as the result of an accident, it can cause severe pain and discomfort.
Facet Joint
These joints are found in the spine and act as a hinge to the vertebrae, allowing the spine to move, bend, and twist. An injury to facet joints from an auto accident can result in serious pain which may require time off from work, physical therapy, and even injections.
Spinal Cord
Spinal cord injuries are quite serious as they can affect how the victim functions, potentially for the rest of their life. These injuries can result in experimental treatments, numerous surgeries, and sometimes full-time assistance from either a loved one or a trained professional.
Paraplegia/Quadriplegia (Paralysis)
As a result of a car accident, victims can be left paralyzed below the waist (paraplegia) or even from the neck down (quadriplegia). These forms of paralysis occur when there are injuries to the thoracic and cervical areas of the spine.
In addition to all of these injuries, some additional symptoms car accident victims may experience include:
• Numbness or tingling
• Difficulty breathing
• Muscle weakness
• Loss of motion
• Painful/stinging sensations
If you or a loved one has been in an auto accident that resulted in an injury to the spinal region, contact the office of Potter Burnett Law today for a free consultation.