Spinal cord injuries are always serious, but there are different types, and each presents its own specific problems. Your spinal cord injury, prognosis, and car accident damages depend on whether you suffer a complete or incomplete spinal cord injury and what part of your spinal cord was hurt in the crash. Car accident spinal cord injuries

Different Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries can be divided into two categories:

  • Complete spinal cord injury. A complete spinal cord injury is a permanent and total injury to an area of the spinal cord. A person with a complete spinal cord injury loses motor function and sensation to all body parts below the point of the spinal cord injury. Currently, there is no medical cure for a complete spinal cord injury.
  • Incomplete spinal cord injury.  A partial, or incomplete, injury to the spinal cord varies from person to person. Generally, people with incomplete spinal cord injuries have compromised sensory or motor functions below the point of the spinal cord injury. If the front of the spinal cord is injured, the patient may suffer movement limitations. If the middle of the spinal cord is injured, the victim may suffer partial movement impairment and loss of fine motor skills. Finally, if just one side of the spinal cord is injured, the victim may suffer spinal cord injury symptoms on one side of the body but not the other.

A complete spinal cord injury or incomplete spinal cord injury may occur at any point on the spinal column, including the:

  • Cervical spine. The cervical spine is in your neck. Since a spinal cord injury may affect everything below the point of injury, cervical spine injuries are severe injuries. A cervical spinal cord injury may affect your ability to move your arms or legs, breathe independently, talk, chew and swallow, and move your head.
  • Thoracic spine. This section of your spine is directly below the cervical spine. A thoracic spinal cord injury may impact balance, breathing, coughing, and movement of your trunk, arms, and legs.
  • Lumbar spine. Lumbar spinal cord injuries impact the lower part of your body, including your hips and legs. While you may still be able to breathe, talk, and eat, you may be unable to walk.
  • Sacral spine. Sacral spinal cord injuries also impact your hips, the backs of your thighs, and pelvic organs. However, some people with sacral spinal cord injuries may still be able to walk.

Your doctor will diagnose you with a complete or incomplete spinal cord injury to a specific area of the spine, provide you with a treatment plan, and let you know what physical symptoms to expect.

Spinal Cord Injury Legal Recoveries

Your financial recovery depends on the unique injury that you suffer. Generally, you may receive compensation for past and future:

  • Medical costs, including hospitalizations, surgeries, medications, doctor appointments, home nursing care, physical therapy, respiratory therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical equipment such as wheelchairs, and other healthcare costs.
  • Lost income for all of the wages, bonuses, benefits, raises, and income from self-employment that you can no longer earn because of your injuries.
  • Out-of-pocket expenses for all of the added expenses your spinal cord injury requires. These expenses may include but are not limited to household help, child care, transportation, and modifications to your home.
  • Pain for all of the physical suffering you must endure.
  • Suffering for all of the emotional suffering that comes with a spinal cord injury.

Your spinal cord injury may impact you for the rest of your life. Accordingly, your future damages must be anticipated accurately, and your spinal cord injury lawyer must present a strong case to the insurance company or the court.

How a Florida Car Accident Lawyer Can Protect Your Rights

Attorney Coy H. Browning was a Florida State Trooper before he became an attorney. He knows how to investigate car accidents and gather evidence, so he can present the convincing arguments you need to get the compensation you deserve.

We do not charge any legal fees unless you recover compensation for your injuries. Please contact the Browning Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation about your rights, possible recovery, and why it’s essential to pursue a car accident case quickly.