After the Crash: What to Do if You Suspect a Spinal Cord Injury

A car accident can change your life in an instant. While some injuries are immediately apparent, others, like spinal cord injuries, may not be obvious right away. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), vehicle crashes are a leading cause of spinal cord injuries. Recognizing the signs and knowing what to do after the crash if you suspect a spinal cord injury can be crucial in minimizing long-term damage and securing your legal rights.

Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal cord is a vital bundle of nerves that transmits signals between your brain and the rest of your body. Damage to the spinal cord can disrupt these signals, leading to a range of impairments, including:

Loss of movement: Partial or complete paralysis in the arms, legs, or torso, depending on the injury’s location.
Loss of sensation: Inability to feel touch, pain, temperature, or body position below the injury level.
Loss of bowel or bladder control: Impaired neuron transmission can lead to overfilling or overflowing of the bladder, resulting in urinary incontinence.
Difficulty breathing: Weakened muscles reduce lung capacity, which in turn may lead to respiratory illnesses like pneumonia.

Spinal cord injuries are classified as either complete or incomplete. A complete injury results in a total loss of sensation and motor function below the injury site, while an incomplete injury allows for some degree of movement or feeling below the injury site. According to data gathered since 2015, about two thirds of all new spinal cord injuries are incomplete.

Immediate Actions After a Crash

If you suspect a spinal cord injury after a car accident, taking the right steps immediately can significantly impact your long-term outcome. Here’s what to do:

Limit Your Movements: First, do your best to protect yourself physically by limiting your movements after the crash.
Call for Paramedics: Call 911 from the scene of the accident and tell them you think you might have a back or spine injury. Paramedics will put you in a special brace to restrict your movements, stabilize your spine, and minimize the risk of further injury.
Seek Emergency Medical Treatment: Immediate medical care not only improves your chances of recovery but also creates the medical documentation necessary to support your legal case. At the hospital, tell them what happened and explain that you were involved in a car accident. After listening to your symptoms, the doctor will conduct a physical exam and may recommend further tests to diagnose a spine injury, such as x-rays or an MRI.
Document Everything: Keep records of the crash, medical evaluations, and any symptoms, no matter how minor they seem initially.
Avoid Discussing Fault or Settling Too Quickly: Insurance companies may try to limit payouts or deny your claim entirely. Politely decline any interviews or recorded statements until you’ve spoken with a lawyer.

Recognizing the Signs of a Spinal Cord Injury

Not all symptoms of a spinal cord injury are immediately apparent. Some may develop over time as swelling or inflammation increases. Key warning signs include:

Extreme back pain or pressure in the neck, head, or back
Weakness, incoordination, or loss of control in any part of the body
Numbness, tingling, or loss of feeling in the hands, fingers, feet, or toes
Loss of bladder or bowel control
Trouble with balance and walking
Difficulty breathing
A twisted neck or back
Muscle spasms in the back, arms, or legs
Headache at the base of the skull

Even seemingly minor symptoms like new or worsening headaches, shoulder or arm pain, stiffness, or difficulty concentrating could indicate a spinal injury. It’s crucial to seek medical attention promptly if you experience any of these symptoms after a car accident.

The Importance of Legal Representation

Spinal cord injury claims are legally complex and require careful documentation, strategic planning, and experienced legal support. A spinal cord injury lawyer can help you:

Investigate the cause of your injury: Determine liability.
Identify all liable parties: Depending on how the injury occurred, liability may fall on negligent drivers, employers or property owners, equipment manufacturers, or government entities.
File claims within your state’s deadlines: Each state has specific time limits, known as statutes of limitations, for filing claims.
Help you avoid costly mistakes: An experienced attorney can help you navigate the legal system and avoid mistakes that could jeopardize your claim.
Negotiate with insurance companies: Spinal cord injury lawyers know how much your claim will be worth and will fight against insurance companies on your behalf.
Take your case to trial: If a fair settlement can’t be reached, your lawyer can take your case to trial.

Understanding Potential Compensation

If your spinal cord injury was the result of another driver’s negligent or reckless actions, you might be entitled to compensation through an injury lawsuit. Some of the types of losses for which you might recover compensation include:

Past and future anticipated medical expenses
Past and future anticipated lost wages
Property losses
Cost of renovating your home to make it accessible
Cost of mobility devices
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Loss of enjoyment of life

The lifetime medical care expenses for spinal cord injuries range from around $1.1 million to more than $4.7 million. Factors including the age of the person, the placement of the injury on the body, and the severity of the injury influence lifetime care costs.

Long-Term Care and Rehabilitation

Spinal cord injuries often require long-term care and rehabilitation to help individuals regain as much function and independence as possible. Rehabilitation programs typically include:

Physical therapy: To improve strength, flexibility, and motor skills.
Occupational therapy: To help individuals adapt to daily living activities.
Speech therapy: To address communication and swallowing difficulties.
Psychological support: To cope with the emotional challenges of a spinal cord injury.

Long-term care options may include:

Home care: In-home assistance with daily living activities.
Assisted living facilities: Providing support with personal care needs.
Skilled nursing facilities: Offering 24-hour medical care and rehabilitation services.
Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals (LTAC): For people whose spinal cord injury is severe or combined with other serious medical problems.

The Road to Recovery

While there is currently no cure for spinal cord injuries, advances in treatment and rehabilitation offer hope for recovery and improved quality of life. With timely intervention, proper care, and the support of a dedicated legal team, individuals with spinal cord injuries can rebuild their lives and achieve their goals.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident and suspect a spinal cord injury, don’t hesitate to seek medical attention and legal advice. Taking the right steps after the crash can make all the difference in your recovery journey.