Spinal injuries are among the most common type of serious injury suffered in a motor vehicle accident. When one suffers any type of injury to the spine, the consequences may be excruciating pain, long-term disability and limitations on mobility and sensation. Spinal injuries may range in severity from minor discomfort to quadriplegia. Motor vehicle collisions constitute the most common cause of spinal injuries in the U.S. However, there are other incidents caused by the negligent, reckless or intentional conduct of others that often result in injuries to the back and spine, which include sports injuries, violent attacks, construction accidents, slip and falls and more. Because this type of injury occurs frequently and can be extremely serious, our Georgia spinal injury attorney have provided an overview of basic information about this type of accident-related injury.
The most serious form of injury to the back involves damage to the spinal cord. The spinal cord is composed of nerves that communicate with the rest of the body. When the spinal cord is damaged or severed completely it can impact both motor control functions and sensory perception (e.g. the sensation of touch). The impact of a spinal cord injury is affected by the location of the trauma with injuries higher up on the spinal cord being more serious than those that occur lower as a general rule. While damage of the spinal cord closer to the head and neck may impact respiration, paraplegia and quadriplegia, lower spinal cord injuries often result in impaired control of bowel, bladder and sexual functions. Lower spinal cord injuries may also limit mobility of the lower body.
Spinal vertebrae injuries may cause damage to the spinal cord but may also leave the spinal cord intact. While vertebrae injuries that do not damage the spinal cord may be somewhat less severe, this type of injury can still cause severe pain and debilitation. The spinal vertebrae are boney rings that surround and protect the nerve bundle that comprises the spinal cord. When a person experiences the force of impact associated with a car crash, trip and fall or other incident, the spinal vertebrae may become dislocated or fractured. If a vertebrae is fractured or dislocated, the injury victim may suffer pain in the vicinity of the damage that may radiate out to the extremities of the body.
If you suffer a spinal cord or spinal vertebrae injury, the result may be costly medical bills, prolonged time off work and permanent partial or total disability as well as chronic pain and limitations on one's life when compared to the victim's activities prior to the accident. If the injury is caused by someone's negligence, such as a careless or drunk driver or broken step on a stairwell at a local business or another form of negligent conduct, you may have a right to seek financial compensation to cover these costs and other forms of harm.
If you have suffered a spinal injury, our Atlanta personal injury attorneys have been representing injury victims for over thirty years throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Put the firm's 30 years of legal experience to work for you!