A woman who required surgery for the spinal injuries she sustained in a car accident has settled her case for $1 million.
In this issue, we’ll share the specifics of the woman’s case, and talk about spinal injuries in general.
Why did the woman settle for $1 million?
While she was driving westbound on an interstate, the woman’s car was struck by another driver, causing her to spin out of control into another vehicle.
She was taken by ambulance to a local hospital where she was admitted into surgery for injuries to her spinal cord.
Because of her injuries, she was not able to return to work for three years.
Why are spine injuries so serious?
According to the Mayo Clinic, any injury to your spinal cord stands a good chance of causing permanent loss in strength, feeling and functionality below the injured area.
Defining your spine
There are four regions of the spine, each responsible for controlling different parts of your body (cervical, neck; thoracic, chest; lumbar, lower back; and sacral, pelvic).
Even though it’s only about 18 inches long (running from the base of your brain to your waist), your spine contains muscles, ligaments and discs that work together in relaying signals throughout the body to coordinate reflexes, mobility and awareness of our senses.
Damage to any of the four areas can result in seriously affecting your quality of life.
Sudden blows to the back from auto accidents or slips and falls are the most common causes of back and spinal injury.
How can I tell if my spine has been injured?
While we’re all different, there are a few telltale signs for recognizing spinal injuries.
These include:
- Inability to move limbs
- Feelings of numbness or tingling in your extremities
- Persistent headaches
- Pressure, pain or stiffness in your back or neck
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
How long does it take to recover from a spine injury?
From paralysis to disc injury, recovering from spinal injuries is often a long hard battle. The best opportunity for recovery is through medical attention and aggressive physical therapy begun as quickly as possible.
This can be tricky as in many cases, symptoms from a spinal injury can be slow in presenting themselves. While each case is different, if there is continued lack of function after 12 months of beginning treatment, the damage is – in many cases – likely permanent.
Have You Experienced a Spinal Injury? Let Barber & Associates Fight for Your Rights!
Injuries to the spinal cord are not to be treated lightly. In fact, any type of blow to this particularly vulnerable part of bodies can cause permanent damage.
If you’ve experienced a spine injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, it’s imperative that you speak with a skilled lawyer about your rights for compensation.
Get in touch with us here at Barber & Associates; the first consultation is always free!
You can reach us at 800-478-5858 or via email.