According to Mayo Clinic, the most common spinal cord injuries in a car accident include:
- Complete spinal cord injuries
- Incomplete spinal cord injuries
- Tetraplegia
- Paraplegia
Your doctor may conduct a series of examinations to learn more about your condition. They may perform a physical exam, run blood work, and order imaging scans, such as x-rays. Suffering a spinal cord injury in a collision can change the course of your life in an instant. You may choose to work with a Dublin car accident lawyer on your case.
Explaining the Different Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
The only way to truly know if you have a spinal cord injury is to consult with a doctor. Not only can they provide you with information about your diagnosis, but they can also administer a treatment that could benefit you.
However, Mayo Clinic reports that many spinal cord injuries are permanent. Instead of administering treatment to “cure” your condition, your doctor may instead recommend therapy that could help you live independently.
Following a car accident, you could be living with:
A Complete Spinal Cord Injury
Let’s look to the following hypothetical scenario to discuss complete spinal cord injuries. Let’s say that you suffered a spinal cord injury just below your waist. In a complete spinal cord injury, you would not have any feeling or sensation below the point of trauma. So, in this case, you would be unable to move your legs or wiggle your toes.
With this type of injury, you may need a wheelchair or motorized scooter to help you get around.
An Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
With an incomplete spinal cord injury, you may have some control or feeling below the point of trauma. There are varying degrees to this type of injury, meaning that you could have abilities that another person in a similar situation would not.
Tetraplegia
With tetraplegia, you cannot feel or move your arms, legs, hands, or pelvis. This condition could permanently change how you live your life since your mobility is affected.
Paraplegia
This condition affects the lower part of your body and usually involves the pelvis, legs, and feet. Similar to tetraplegia, your mobility could be affected for the remainder of your life.
Just because you suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury does not mean that your life is over. Many people are able to live healthy, productive lives despite these impairments. However, over time, the cost of medical care can quickly add up.
For a free legal consultation, call (614) 538-1116
Compensable Losses in a Dublin Car Accident Case
In the aftermath of your spinal cord injury, you may have questions about your legal options. If another party’s negligence caused your car accident, you might want to work with a lawyer to help you recover the cost of your damages.
You may be able to recoup the following:
Medical Bills
According to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, the medical costs associated with a spinal cord injury can cost millions of dollars over the course of your lifetime. The cost of surgical procedures, assistive devices, and medications can be recovered through a personal injury claim or lawsuit.
You may also be reimbursed for:
- In-home nursing
- Living in a care facility
- Hospitalization
- Doctors’ visits
- Mental health counseling
If you work with a lawyer on your case, they can determine the cost of your anticipated medical expenses.
Lost Income and Loss of Future Earning Capacity
After suffering a spinal cord injury, you may be unable to work at your current job. You may be unable to work altogether. Your lawyer can calculate the cost of your forfeited income and include these losses in your claim.
Pain and Suffering
Having to adapt to a new way of life can be stressful. You may think that the emotional turmoil of your accident is not compensable, but it is. Your lawyer can evaluate your quality of life to determine how much you should be paid for pain and suffering.
You may be able to recover additional expenses, including property damage costs, loss of consortium, and mental anguish.
Bressman Law Can Help You Pursue the Cost of Your Damages
Now that you understand the most common spinal cord injuries in a car accident, consider working with Bressman Law. With our knowledge, resources, and 30 years of legal experience, we can help you recover compensation for your accident-related losses. You may not have a long time to act under Ohio’s statute of limitations, so we encourage you to call us today for a free case review. Dial (877) 538-1116 to get started.
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