Spinal cord injury occurs when physical damage is inflicted in the spinal making it unable to send signal from the brain. These injuries occur in approximately 12,000 to 15,000 people per year in the U.S. About 10,000 of these people are permanently paralyzed, and many of the rest die because of these injuries.
Spinal cord traumas are often caused by automobile collisions, motorcycle accidents, Sports Utility Vehicle rollover and other motor vehicle accidents. Other major causes of spinal cord injuries are falls, violence and sports injuries.
There are two types of spinal cord related injuries:
1. Complete: Both sides of your body are equally affected. You cannot feel any sensation or voluntary movements on the lower portion of your body
2. Incomplete: One side of the body is affected. You can either move the other limbs better than the other one. You can function in one side because; you feel the sensation whereas the other is too dumb and unmovable.
The two types of spinal cord related injuries shows that you do not need to experience the severe or complete type before some of your body parts ceases to function.
In addition, each spinal cord parts have its own connection to certain parts of the body. Below shows the classification and its effect to the victims body
Spinal Cord Injury Classification
1. Tetraplegia (formerly known as quadriplegia): injury to the spinal cord in the cervical spine (neck) segments with associated loss of muscle strength in all four extremities
2. Paraplegia: injury in the spinal cord in the thoracic (mid back), lumbar (low back), or sacral (pelvic) segments, including the cauda equina and conus medullaris
A spinal cord injury is serious and needs proper medical attention because it can lead to brain damage or even death. Spinal cord injuries treatments needs long time rehabilitation.
If the spinal cord injury is a product of a car and vehicle accidents, victims can recover compensation according to the law that applies to it. In California, victims can receive compensation including the medical and rehabilitation expenses.
Aside from medical and rehabilitation expenses, victims can also recover the following:
• the nature and extent of the injury (whether the injury is temporary/permanent)
• pain and suffering
• loss of earnings and impairment of earning capacity
• any disfigurement or deformity
• mental anguish
• the loss of enjoyment of life
Compensation is shouldered by the defendants insurance. Usually, they make settlements outside the court. The insurance settler will most likely offer you the lowest settlement valuable. With the help of a qualified spinal cord injury attorney, you will receive compensation higher than what they offer.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Janice Ticar
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