Auto Accidents Can Cause Severe Back and Spinal Cord Injuries
The legal team at Chanfrau & Chanfrau are committed advocates for the injured and their loved ones throughout the Daytona Beach area. We have helped countless clients seek just compensation following injuries caused by negligence.
Auto accidents can lead to serious and debilitating injuries, requiring major medical attention that might be necessary for the rest of your life. This is particularly true of serious back injuries.
All Back Injuries Have to Be Taken Seriously
A back injury sustained in an auto accident can lead to major pain and also have long-lasting repercussions. Serious back injuries in particular can lead to long-term problems with mobility, pain, and range of motion. In severe cases, the spinal cord or back may be so injured that it leads to issues with the extremities and overall quality of life.
Ruptured Discs
Between each vertebrae is a spongy disc that helps serve as a shock absorber when a person moves or turns. A slipped disc, herniated disc, or a ruptured disc refers to instances of injury that cause these spongy discs to bulge outward. Major trauma as experienced in an auto collision can lead to a slipped disc. Generally the issue is more common in the lower back, though it can occur anywhere along the spine.
Compression Fractures
Compression fractures occur when a vertebrae is injured and cracks form in the bone structure. This can lead to the vertebrae partially collapsing and losing a percentage of its overall height in the process. This is more of an issue in older individuals since bones become more brittle with advanced age.
Whiplash
Whiplash refers to a class of various neck injuries in which the cervical portion of the spine is suddenly shifted or accelerated, leading to serious pain or injury in a person's neck. Typically, whiplash is most common following rear-end auto accidents.
Paraplegia
Paraplegia is a serious type of spinal cord injury in which the victim is unable to feel sensation in or move his/her lower extremities. This is a permanent injury, meaning that the victim will be wheelchair bound for the rest of his or her life.
There are so many personal and professional limitations and challenges caused by paraplegia. Adjusting to life after the injury can prove a major struggle for the injury victim as well as the loved ones of the injury victim.
Quadriplegia
Perhaps the most severe spinal cord injury that can be sustained, quadriplegia (aka tetraplegia) refers to the loss of movement and sensation in all the extremities. These kinds of spinal cord injuries occur in the neck area. In some cases of quadriplegia, the injury victim will require a machine to assist with breathing since he or she will be unable to do that on their own any longer.
The challenges and limitations in life posed by quadriplegia are dire. Complete changes to career path and quality of life need to be taken into account, and 24-hour monitoring and medical assistance is required.
Speak with the Legal Team at Chanfrau & Chanfrau
If you would like to learn more about your legal options following a serious auto accident, it's of the utmost importance that you contact our team off personal injury attorneys today. The lawyers of Chanfrau & Chanfrau will fight diligently for you in your time of legal need.
