Common Spinal Cord Injuries in Vehicle Collisions and Other Traumatic Accidents

Our bodies are fragile. Vehicle collisions and other traumatic accidents often demonstrate just how fragile they can be. Even relatively minor impacts can have serious – and in some cases life-altering – implications.

Spinal cord injuries are some of the most common (and also most dangerous) forms of serious accident-related traumas. They often require extensive treatment and rehabilitation. It is no secret that these can get extremely expensive very quickly. This article identifies the warning signs and possible effects of accident-related neck and back injuries. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident in the Houston area, we urge you to contact a personal injury lawyer right away to help you seek compensation for your medical bills and other losses.

Signs That You May Have a Spinal Cord Injury

Following a bus accident or other traumatic event, it can be difficult to diagnose your own medical condition. You may be experiencing a surge of adrenaline that is preventing you from noticing pain or discomfort and many symptoms of traumatic injuries do not manifest until days –sometimes weeks – after the accident. However, there are certain warning signs you should watch for. The following are all possible indicators of a serious neck or back injury:

• Difficulty breathing
• Headaches
• Inability to move any part of your body
• Loss of balance
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Numbness or tingling in your hands or feet
• Pain or pressure in your neck or back
• Spasms

Regardless of whether you are experiencing symptoms, if you have been involved in a collision, we strongly urge you to seek medical attention right away.

Traumatic Neck and Back Injuries

Neck and back injuries range widely in their severity. Some of the most common forms of traumatic neck and spinal cord injuries include:

• Whiplash – Despite its stigma, whiplash is a serious injury — one that is extremely common in rear-end car crashes and other events of sudden impact. With whiplash, your head jolts forward forcing the neck to follow. When it snaps back, this sudden movement literally forces your neck to move like a whip, often causing a strain or sprain in the ligaments or muscles in your neck. In severe cases, whiplash victims can experience pain and headaches for months or years after the accident.
• Herniated Disc – Simply stated, your spine is made up of a series of vertebrae (these are the bones) that are connected by a series of discs. These discs are made up of a tough outer layer and a gel-like center called nucleus pulposus. In a traumatic accident, the outer layer of your discs can crack, allowing the nucleus pulposus to escape. This condition is referred to as a herniated disc. Herniated discs can cause pain, numbness, and weakness, and may require surgery to repair.
• Paralysis – There are multiple levels of paralysis. The effects can be characterized as either complete or incomplete, and the scope and severity of your injury will depend on where the trauma occurred.

Aside from these conditions, many accident victims also suffer symptoms as result of a variety of other types of neck and back injuries. Regardless of the type of injury you have suffered, if someone else is to blame, you are entitled to file a personal injury claim to recover your losses.

Contact Morrow & Sheppard LLP to Learn More

Morrow & Sheppard LLP is a law firm that represents clients who have suffered spinal cord injuries in vehicle collisions, workplace incidents, and other accidents. To schedule a free consultation with one of our Houston personal injury lawyers, please contact us today.