Spinal cord injuries are a possible concern after someone has been involved in a motor vehicle crash. These injuries often impact every area of a person’s life if they’re severe enough.
There are several things that you should know about spinal cord injuries if you’re ever in a crash. One of the most important is understanding the signs. You may feel considerable pain at the site of the injury, but that doesn’t always happen. Changes in your ability to feel and move your limbs or digits are also possible signs.
The location of the injury matters
The affected area of the body is always below the location of the injury. This means that you’ll have more effects if the injury is higher. For example, a neck injury can lead to quadriplegia, which is a paralysis of all four limbs. A lower back injury may result in paralysis of the legs, but the arms won’t be affected.
The type of injury also affects the outcome
The type of injury is another factor that can play a role in how you can heal. Typically, complete injuries have a lower likelihood of a full recovery. This is because complete injuries have entirely severed nerves at the site of the injury. Incomplete injuries have some nerves that are still connected, so recovery is more likely.
The long-term costs are extreme
The medical care necessary for a spinal cord injury is costly. When the injury is due to another party’s negligence, you may seek compensation for the financial damages. This goes beyond the medical expenses, so including lost wages is also possible. Georgia has a two-year statute of limitations, which means you have limited time to get your case filed.