Each year, approximately 17,000 people suffer spinal cord injuries. In people younger than 65 years old, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of these injuries. People who have a damaged spinal cord are at risk of having life-long challenges associated with it.
When the spinal cord is injured, the way the body sends and receives messages is affected. Functions below the location of the damage are impacted. While some of these injuries heal, others come with permanent paralysis and loss of other abilities. The type and severity of the injury have an impact on the possible recovery.
Type of injury matters
Spinal cord injuries are either complete or incomplete. A complete injury means that there is a full severing of the nerves. There is a total loss of function and senses below the place location of the injury. The likelihood of a full recovery is considerably low for a person who has a complete spinal cord injury.
In an incomplete injury, some nerve pathways remain intact. The person will have function and senses below the injury, but they may be greatly diminished. People with this type of spinal cord injury typically have a better recovery than those with a complete injury.
Anyone who suffers a spinal cord injury should get the necessary medical care as quickly as possible. Seeking compensation for medical expenses as well as others related to the injury is possible if the other driver’s negligence played a role in the crash. Taking swift action is critical since there are time limits set by Virginia law.