Neck and spinal cord injuries can be life-altering, forcing victims to deal with movement limitations, pain, paralysis, and other hardships. These types of injuries are categorized by damage to the cervical spinal cord or below and can occur as a result of auto accidents, falls, sports accidents, construction site accidents, assaults or attacks, or swimming pool accidents.
If you or someone you care about suffered injury to the spinal cord in an accident, please call Shelnutt & Varner at 256-547-4988 for a free review of your case. Neck injuries can have life-altering consequences, and our Birmingham attorneys might be able to recover damages on your behalf depending on the circumstances of your case.
Minor Accidents Can Mean Major Injuries
The delicate vertebrae of the spine are highly susceptible to compression and fracture if impacted. Even a minor blow to the back or neck can result in dislocation or injury to the components of the spinal cord. When the vertebrae are knocked out of place, the ligaments become susceptible to tearing, and the blood vessels become prone to rupturing. Spinal disc injuries and whiplash are also commonly seen among neck/spinal injury victims.
Effects of Neck and Spinal Cord Injuries
Swelling of the spinal cord can limit or completely cut off the blood flow that carries nutrients and oxygen to the area. If oxygen cannot reach spinal cord tissues, it can put all other bodily systems at risk. After the initial trauma, the cells can continue to be affected. Blood flow may continue to weaken, and disability may happen gradually, depending on the amount of nerve damage. Loss of reflexes and sensation are common among neck/spinal injury victims, and there is a high risk of respiratory (breathing) complications.
The symptoms of severe injury are not always immediately noticeable. It is crucial to the accident victim’s survival that the appropriate testing be performed at the emergency stage, and also that paramedics handle and transport the victim according to safe protocol.
Treatment of Neck and Spinal Cord Injuries
Treatment for neck/spinal injuries is a highly specialized area of medicine that requires very personalized measures. Medication to reduce nerve cell damage, spinal realignment using braces and traction, surgery, and physical therapy are a few of the tools that can help injury victims minimize spinal damage and regain independence. For victims with paraplegia, quadriplegia, and other forms of paralysis, it will be just as important to treat the emotional aspects of the injury and educate the family on how to live with a permanent disability. One thing is certain — all types of treatment require a large amount of financial resources.
Learn more:
At Shelnutt & Varner, we’ve helped countless neck/spinal cord injury patients get the money they need to afford proper treatment. If you have questions, please review our online spinal cord injury resources section. When you’re ready to initiate legal action, come meet with us and find out if you have any legal right to compensation. If another person’s negligence led to the injury, your family may be entitled to collect damages for medical expenses, equipment, medication, lost income, pain and suffering, and more.
Was your loved one killed after a neck/spinal cord injury? You may have a Wrongful Death claim.
Talk to an experienced attorney team and learn more about your rights after a neck/spinal cord injury. Our legal team is here for you when you need support the most. Please contact Shelnutt & Varner by phone at 256-547-4988 or online now to set up a personal, one-on-one consultation.