Maryland Car Accidents and Spinal Cord Injuries in Maryland
Even if you are the safest driver possible, you cannot avoid a car accident that is caused by someone else’s reckless behavior. Back and neck injuries are common types of injuries incurred in car accidents, and serious collisions can cause catastrophic injuries like spinal cord damage. If you or a loved one suffered spinal cord damage in a Maryland accident, it is important to speak with a Charles County car accident attorney as soon as possible.
Signs and Symptoms of a Major Spinal Cord Injury after a Car Accident
There are a number of emergency symptoms of a spinal cord injury after a car accident. According to the Mayo Clinic, these can include:
- Extreme back pain or pressure in your head, neck, or back
- Tingling, numbness, or loss of sensation in your hands, feet, fingers, or toes
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Paralysis, weakness, or incoordination of any part of the body
- Impaired breathing after injury
- Difficulty with walking and balance
- Oddly twisted or positioned neck or back
The higher the damage on the spinal cord, the more serious the injury usually is. You can receive damage to your vertebrae without damaging the spinal cord and vice versa.
Categories of Spinal Cord Injuries
There are two main categories of spinal cord injuries. These are complete and incomplete. If there is no function, sensation, or movement lower than the location on the spinal cord that received damage, it is considered a complete spinal cord injury. If the injury is high enough, it could leave the victim as a quadriplegic as he or she would have no function of all four limbs. Injuries further down the spine may result in paraplegia.
Incomplete spinal cord injuries refer to victims who still have some mobility and function below the area of injury. This is also the reference to a victim who has some mobility, control, or sensation on only one side of the body.
The prognosis for recovery on spinal cord injuries is varied. It is extremely rare for a person with a complete spinal cord injury to regain mobility. With incomplete spinal cord injuries, there are numerous cases of the victim improving, but a full recovery is not usually likely.
Complications from a Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injuries are life-changing for the victim. They will need life-long care and assistance. Depending on the severity and location of the injury, assistance could be anything from helping someone get dressed on a daily basis and running them around, as they are unable to drive, to have a feeding tube and ventilator installed to assist them with basic bodily functions.
If you sustained a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence or reckless behavior, you have a right to recovery. While no amount of money will bring back your mobility, it can help to cover your medical treatment to date and all the medical expenses that are yet to come.
Contact a Maryland Personal Injury Attorney
Speaking with an experienced Waldorf auto accident attorney is an important first step in pursuing a claim for damages. Please contact the Law Office of Robert R. Castro today at 301-870-1200 to schedule an initial consultation.
