Injuries to the spinal cord may result in temporary or permanent damage to the spine and may present with various symptoms. Depending on the location of the injury on the spine as well as its severity, symptoms may include difficulty moving, numbness or tingling, a burning sensation and paralysis. Symptoms may not appear immediately after the injury takes place. Some develop slowly as swelling or bleeding occurs around the spinal cord.
These injuries may be caused by trauma related to a car accident, sports injury, fall or other event. Tennessee residents with injuries of this nature are often burdened by significant expenses in addition to pain and suffering. Some injuries, however, might have been prevented, or the severity of the injury could have been minimized. For example, car accidents that are caused by negligence may have been prevented by safer driving habits. Wearing a seat belt and using defensive driving techniques could also aide in the avoidance of an accident.
Spinal cord injuries may require treatment by a doctor, and severe injuries may dictate the need for emergency medical assistance, hospitalization and surgery. These injuries may also require medication, rehabilitation and ongoing or long-term health care services. Families of those who lost a loved one as a result of this type of injury or related complications might also be burdened with the financial responsibility of funeral costs.
When spinal cord injuries are caused by a car accident, they may be preventable in certain instances. Those who have been affected by this type of incident may file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party in a civil court to seek punitive damages. Financial compensation could be used to pay for related medical expenses, to cover lost wages and to pay for funeral costs in the event of a fatality. Victims and their families can contact a Knoxville personal injury lawyer to explore their legal options.
Source: Oakridge, “Dealing with spinal cord injuries,” March 8, 2013