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Car accidents can result in paralysis

On Behalf of | Jun 21, 2019 | Firm News |

Motor vehicle accidents are dangerous problems that will likely never go away. On average, 20-50 million people experience injury or disability following an auto accident. Some of these injuries can completely change a person’s quality of life, especially if it involves damage to the spinal cord.

There are many types of paralysis, including both temporary and permanent loss of function. Your life can completely change in one split second. In cases where another driver was at fault, there may have been little you could have done to prevent the life-altering injury.

Cause of injury

Your spine is a fragile structure vulnerable to breaking if there is enough pressure. Car accidents are often abrupt, giving your body little to no time to brace for impact. This jerking motion can cause bones to snap as your body thrusts forward.

In the unfortunate event that your car actually rolls over, your spine can sustain even further trauma as the vehicle lands. The roof may collapse, or the car could throw you into an unforgiving surface, putting excessive strain on your vertebrae.

Severity of paralysis

There are two basic types of paralysis: paraplegia and quadriplegia. The latter is the more serious of the two, causing a loss of feeling and movement in both your arms and your legs. The form of paralysis you may experience depends on where on your spinal cord you receive the most damage, as well as how severe the impact is.

While modern techniques have improved the outlook for victims of paralysis, most cases still remain irreversible. You may require assistance for the rest of your life, and you may not even be able to continue working in your chosen career.

Car accidents are often the result of negligence or recklessness on the part of one driver. This is deeply distressing when paralysis occurs, because you know your devastating circumstances were preventable.