Spinal Cord Injury from a Colorado Car Accident

Suffering any type of injury is a terrifying experience for most people. Spinal cord injuries are incredibly serious and life-altering. While these types of injuries can occur in many ways, car accidents account for 38% of all spinal cord injuries. Unfortunately, the spinal cord injury attorneys at Bowman Law have seen firsthand the devastating impact these injuries can have on individuals and their families. Beyond the immediate physical challenges, spinal cord injuries often lead to long-term financial burdens, emotional trauma, and a significant disruption to a person’s life. Understanding the causes, implications, and legal options available is crucial for anyone navigating this difficult journey. This article aims to provide valuable insights and guidance on spinal cord injuries.   

Background on Spinal Cord Injuries in Colorado

The spine provides support and structure to the body. It gives protection to the spinal cord and allows flexibility and movements of the body. The spinal cord plays a pivotal role in the body as it is one of the main components of the central nervous system. It is an elongated bundle of nerves extending from the brain to around the middle of the back that regulates movement and sensation and delivers nerve signals from the brain to the rest of the body. 

When damage to the spinal cord occurs, the risk of a serious and permanent injury is high, and a wide range of a person’s body core functions may be put in jeopardy. Any injury to the spinal cord is dangerous and can be life-threatening. It can cause permanent changes to bodily functions, including changes in strength, feeling, and sensation.

Because the spinal cord plays such a pivotal role in mobility and strength, injuries sustained in this area of the body have a tendency to take a long time to heal, if they heal at all. The spinal cord injury attorneys at Bowman Law have worked with many car accident victims who suffered back injuries that are permanent, forever prohibiting their ability to function and move their bodies in the way they once did.  

Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injuries

Symptoms of spinal cord injuries can vary, depending on the extremity and location of the injury. Some of the symptoms of spinal cord injuries are:

• Pain at the site of the injury;
• Loss of movement;
• Muscle weakness or paralysis;
• Numbness ;
• Trouble walking or maintaining balance;
• Loss of or a change in sensation or ability to feel heat, cold, and touch;
• Loss of bowel or bladder control;
• Problems with heart rate and blood pressure;
• Abnormal reflex activities;
• Involuntary muscle spasms;
• Changes in sexual function;
• Difficulty breathing or coughing;
• Circulatory issues such as swelling in extremities.

Most Common Spinal Injuries

According to the World Health Organization, car accidents are one of the leading causes of spinal cord injuries. An Accident Analysis & Prevention report shows there are about 869,000 spinal injuries in the United States each year due to car accidents. One of the challenges with recovering from a spinal cord injury is identifying the true extent of the injury. At first, it may seem like a minor tingling sensation, but it is important to keep in mind, there could be something more serious underlying. The tingling sensations could be the result of serious and detrimental nerve damage. 

The following are the common types of spinal injuries that can happen in a car accident in Colorado:

• Whiplash: an injury to the neck due to a sudden, forceful back-and-forth movement of the head and neck. Whiplash is generally caused by rear-end collisions;
• Herniated Discs: an injury that takes place when a disc is forced through a weakened part of the spine, potentially irritating nearby nerves;
• Spinal Fracture: an injury that involves a break in a bone or bones of the spine, causing a vertebra to collapse or break. A spinal fracture can be a minor compression fracture or a more severe burst fracture;
• Facet Joint Injury: a painful condition of the facet joints connecting vertebrae due to the impact of a car accident;
• Paralysis: Victims who experience paralysis will be unable to move the affected parts of their body temporarily or permanently. Kinds of paralysis include:

• Quadriplegia, or tetraplegia, is the loss of movement and sensation in all four limbs.
• Paraplegia: the loss of movement and sensation in the lower half of the body. 
• Triplegia: the loss of movement and sensation in one arm and both legs and usually results from an incomplete spinal cord injury.
• Chronic Pain: Patients with spinal cord injuries suffer from chronic pain, which can be neuropathic or musculoskeletal. Neuropathic pain is due to nerve damage, while musculoskeletal pain is caused by strain on muscles or joints;
• Loss of Sensation: Injuries to the spinal cord lose the ability to feel touch, pain, temperature, or pressure. Loss of sensation can result in numbness, tingling, or a total lack of feeling in affected areas;
• Autonomic Nervous System: involves loss of bladder and bowel control, sexual dysfunction, respiratory problems, difficulty regulating body temperature, and abnormal blood pressure or heart rate;
• Muscle Atrophy: The muscles of the patients below the level of injury may contract involuntarily or may thin or waste away due to disuse.

In addition to the foregoing, victims with spinal cord injuries are at a higher risk of developing complications due to immobility and lack of sensation. They are more prone to pressure sores, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Treatment for a Spinal Cord Injury

Treatment options for a spinal cord injury focus on the stabilization of the injury, prevention of further damage, and rehabilitation to regain function. 

• Rehabilitation: It involves therapies, activities, and sessions to maximize recovery and improve the function of the victim. Treatments include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and respiratory therapy, and psychological counseling.
• Home and Vehicle Modifications: These involve modifying or improving the home and vehicle to make them accessible to the victims. Modifications include adding ramps and handrails and creating a wider path or doorway to allow the use of a wheelchair.
• Long-Term Care and Support: This covers assistive devices and technology that will help with the recovery of the victims. Devices like wheelchairs and exoskeletons, and technologies, such as computer voice recognition and environmental control units, can provide long-term care and support.

Compensation for a Spinal Cord Injury

Compensation for a spinal cord injury can be different in each case. The average settlement depends on several factors, including the severity of the injury sustained, the circumstances of the accident, the evidence gathered, and the impact on the life of the victim.

The following are potential areas for settlement:

• Medical Expenses: compensation for medical treatment, including medications, rehabilitations, assistive devices, home modifications, and future medical care needs;
• Lost Wages: compensation for past and future unearned wages;
• Pain and Suffering: compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life;
• Loss of Consortium: compensation for the impact on marital relationships.
• Mobility: compensation for wheelchairs, walking aids and home modifications, including widening doors or assembling an electric chair to make it easier to move around the home;
• Long-Term Care: compensation for additional assistance you require, like hiring home care professionals;
• Loss of Use: compensation for not being able to live like you used to
• Punitive Damages: compensation to punish the negligent party for willful or wanton disregard for your safety

Contact a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

Filing a spinal cord injury claim can be overwhelming, especially if the victim was left handicapped and incapacitated. The first thing to do after sustaining a spinal cord injury in an accident is to seek medical attention. This is to minimize further harm and properly document your injury and recovery process. After consulting with a medical professional, it is next important to meet with spinal cord injury victims to meet with a personal injury attorney who specializes in these types of injuries. 

At Bowman Law, our spinal cord injury attorneys understand the difficulties a victim of a spinal cord injury faces after the accident. Our experienced personal injury lawyers will assist you and navigate the legal process to pursue fair compensation for your spinal cord injury. From the initial call, our spinal cord injury attorneys will investigate and gather evidence that will help you win your claim. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Colorado, contact our office at 720-863-6904 for a free case evaluation and let us help obtain the just compensation you deserve. 

Our law firm is located in Denver and serves the Front Range, including Colorado Springs, Boulder, Fort Collins, Westminster, Lakewood, and Aurora.