Moving Forward after a Spinal Cord Injury

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Car Accidents

If you have been severely injured in a car accident, one of the most important first steps is to speak with an attorney. Starting the claim system early and efficiently is key to recovering the damages you need to get your life back on track. Attempting to go through the complicated steps on your own can result in less compensation and less care than you may need or deserve.

One of the most traumatizing injuries that can result from a car accident is one that involves the spinal cord. According to the MayoClinic, motor vehicle accidents account for 35 percent of all new spinal cord injuries sustained in the United States very year, making car crashes one of the most leading causes of spinal cord injury. There are two main types of spinal cord injuries: traumatic or non-traumatic. These delineations have to do with the way that the injury affects the nerve fibers that pass through the injured area. When nerves are damaged, they affect the way that a person is able to send signals between the brain and body extremities. The location of where the injury is sustained on the spinal cord affects the types of movement that will later be hindered: a chest injury can affect one’s legs, bowel and bladder control, sexual function, and torso. A neck or cervical injury can affect a person’s ability to breath as well as his function of his arms.

Spinal cord injuries are not only expensive to treat in the immediate time period after an accident, but often have severe long-lasting effects. One of these is, of course, a person’s ability to work. Great strides have been made in the past decade to accommodate disabled workers, but there are still important steps to be taken. An accident attorney can also help you determine if you qualify for disability benefits in the event that you can no longer return to work.

If you have sustained a spinal cord injury because of an auto accident in which you are not at fault, speak with a dedicated Lake County accident attorney today.