There are many ways that a spinal cord injury can impact a victim. For some, it means complete paralysis. For others, it means having to deal with some temporary loss of abilities. Several factors come together to determine what kind of effects the person will have to live with.
Spinal cord injuries occur in a variety of accidents, including those involving a drunk driver. Anyone who has pain or a lack of ability to move after an accident should undergo a medical evaluation.
Anyone who’s suffering from a spinal cord injury should learn about the points that play a role in the recovery. Their loved ones might also find this information useful.
Where is the injury?
The location of the injury has a significant impact on how much you’re going to be affected by it. The area of the body below the injury is where you’ll experience effects. This means that a greater portion of the body is likely to be impacted if you suffer a neck injury than what happens if you have a lower back injury.
Is the injury complete or incomplete?
Spinal cord injuries are classified as complete or incomplete. A complete injury means the nerve pathways are completely severed, so there’s no feeling or movement below the level of the injury. An incomplete injury is associated with some feeling or movement below the injury because the nerve pathways are still at least partially attached. Typically, an incomplete injury is associated with a better recovery than a complete injury.
What type of medical care did you receive?
Being able to access quality medical care, such as from a trauma center, quickly after the injury may improve your chances of a better recovery. While care at a hospital without a trauma center is sometimes helpful, those facilities may not have the specialists you need.
If your injury was due to the negligence of another person, you might choose to seek compensation. This is a way that you can try to recover the financial damages that occurred because of the injury. This can encompass the wages you missed because you were unable to work, the cost of medical care, expenses related to getting the things you need to live a normal life, and similar damages. Time to get your claim filed is limited so be sure to act quickly after the accident.