Spinal Injury

Spinal injuries are an unfortunately common result of motorcycle accidents. Spinal injuries can cause patients to lose sensory and motor functions, which can severely impact the patient’s ability to complete daily tasks and remain gainfully employed. Patients may also suffer emotional consequences from the decrease in independence and the inability to participate in favored hobbies and activities. If a motorcycle accident spinal cord injury has been caused by the recklessness of another driver, a spinal injury attorney can help patients to hold that driver liable.

Types of Spinal Injuries

Damage to the spinal cord may be “complete” or “incomplete”. Complete spinal injuries disable both sensory and motor functions below the point of injury on the spine. Incomplete spinal injuries may disable some functions below the point of injury, but may leave others intact. Incomplete spinal injuries can vary in severity.

Spinal Injury Complications

Spinal injuries may cause the following issues:

  • Complete or partial paralysis
  • Respiratory complications
  • Loss of bowel and bladder control
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Loss of feeling in different body areas
  • Inability to walk
  • Involuntary muscle twinges
  • Inability to use one or both arms

Preventing Spinal Injuries

In the past, it was thought that a helmet would cause more damage to the spine in a motorcycle accident, however studies have shown this to be untrue. Helmets protect the upper spine as well as the head in many accidents. A proper motorcycle jacket may also provide valuable support for the spine.

Spinal Injury Attorney

Spinal injury attorneys have a well rounded knowledge of the causes and impacts of spinal injuries, and can provide patients with advice and assistance for seeking compensation for motorcycle injuries. Whether the party at fault is the manufacturer of the motorcycle, distributor of motorcycle protective gear, or another driver that caused a motorcycle accident, a spinal injury attorney can help patients to recover compensation. Spinal cord lawyers may help to obtain payment for pain and suffering as well as medical costs. In some cases, the party at fault may also be ordered to pay punitive damages to the patient as an additional penalty to discourage similar actions in the future.

 

 

Sources:

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/motorcycle_helmets_reduce_spine_injuries_after_collisions_helmet_weight_as_risk_to_neck_called_a_myth

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2724376