Spinal Cord Injuries From St. Louis, MO Car Accidents

Extending from the brainstem to the lower back, the spinal cord consists of small parts called vertebrae which — along with the brain — compose the central nervous system. The spinal cord contains a variety of nerves that send and receive messages between the brain and body. Unfortunately, due to its important role in day-to-day functioning, the outcome of injury sustained to the spinal cord can be devastating for the person injured.

If you suffered a spinal cord injury that someone else is responsible for, you may be able to obtain financial compensation with help from a St. Louis spinal cord injury lawyer. A capable personal injury lawyer could devote the time and resources necessary to achieve a positive outcome for you.

What Are Common Types of Spinal Cord Injuries Resulting From Car Accidents?

The following are the most common spinal cord injuries associated with car accidents:

• Whiplash — Whiplash is a general term for injuries to the neck, ranging from strains and fractures. While they can be relatively mild compared to other spinal cord injuries, they are sometimes life-threatening.
• Fractured vertebrae — The spine has 33 vertebrae. A dislocation or fracture of any one of those vertebrae can affect the surrounding nerves and tissue, and the function of your nervous system. Mild fractures may be healed with rest, while more serious ones need emergency surgery. Not getting a vertebrae fracture treated could lead to lifelong disability.
• Disc injuries — Discs are the rubbery substance in between vertebrae that act as cushions. A herniated, bulging, fragmented or ruptured disc occurs when part of a disc is forced out of the spinal column. This can cause immense pain and limit movement when they impinge on a nerve. Treatment can range from pain management to surgery.
• Pinched nerves — A pinched nerve occurs when too much pressure is applied to a nerve by surrounding bone, cartilage, muscles or tendons. This disrupts the nerve's ability to communicate with the brain, and can cause tingling, pain or weakness.
• Spinal stenosis — When a bone breaks or moves out of place, it can make the space inside the spinal column too small. It is most common in the neck or lower back, and most people experience pain, numbing or weakness that gets worse over time.
• Tetraplegia — Also called quadriplegia, this refers to a person's inability to move all four limbs. In most cases the paralysis is permanent.
• Paraplegia — This is an inability to move the lower parts of the body, and is also almost always permanent.

Levels of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries, especially severe ones, may result in paralysis. Paralysis is the inability to use limbs and can be either full or partial. The extent of paralysis a person experiences will depend on which part of their spinal cord sustains damage.

If a person loses the ability to control any part of their body below the spinal cord injury, they will have complete paralysis. If they only lose function in the affected area, they will only have partial paralysis. Complete paralysis can cause a person to become dependent on others for help and may leave them unable to work or perform day-to-day tasks. A St. Louis spinal cord injury lawyer could help an individual pursue financial compensation for their injuries, lessening their financial burden.

Spinal cord injuries are also referred to as "high" or "low." A person generally loses function and/or feeling below the level of the injury. The higher the injury, the less function you will retain.

If you have been in an accident and have any of the following symptoms, you need to find emergency medical care right away:

• Paralysis, weakness or uncoordinated movement in any part of your body
• Loss of or impaired sensation, such as the ability to feel heat, cold and touch
• Extreme pain or pressure in your back or head
• Numbness or tingling in your legs, arms, hands or feet
• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of bladder control
• A twisted back
• Coughing or trouble breathing
• Stinging or pinching sensations in your back

Consequences of a Spinal Cord Injury After a St. Louis Car Accident

After sustaining a spinal cord injury, many individuals find they are unable to live a normal life. This can be remarkably distressing for a person who was previously able to work and take care of themselves, but must now seek continuous medical care due to the devastating impact of an injury.

Spinal cord injuries can cause any or several of the following medical conditions:

• Inability to control bladder and bowels
• Difficulty regulating body temperature and blood pressure
• Poor resistance to respiratory illnesses and infections
• Chronic pain
• Full or partial paralysis
• Sexual dysfunction

Such medical conditions can leave a person in need of lifelong medical care, which can be a debilitating financial burden. Individuals with spinal cord injuries are also more prone to major depressive disorder than non-injured individuals.

How Can a St. Louis, MO Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Help?

It is normal to feel angry, powerless and confused after a spinal cord injury, but there are ways to hold the person responsible for the injury accountable. By working with an experienced St. Louis spinal cord injury lawyer, injured individuals could increase their chances of obtaining financial compensation for their pain and suffering.

• Fully investigate your claim and find the evidence needed to determine who is liable for your injuries and prove negligence
• Connect you with trusted healthcare providers to get you the best possible physical recovery
• Develop the best legal strategy to win your case
• Use expert witnesses like crash and medical experts to prove how the accident caused your spinal cord injury, determine your long-term prognosis and fully calculate your damages
• Determine every liable party to hold all of them accountable, which, depending on the specifics of your crash, can include the at-fault driver, an auto manufacturer, a local municipality or a construction company
• Keep you up-to-date on your case, always be available to answer questions and provide legal advice that is sound and compassionate, while leaving the ultimate decision about your claim up to you
• Do everything possible to get a fair settlement in negotiation and mediation
• Fight for you in front of a jury if we have to

No one should be left to deal with the financial and emotional fallout of an accident they did not cause, and everyone living with a spinal cord injury should be aware of their legal options. Speak to a St. Louis attorney today at (314) 500-HURT.