Can I Sue for a Spinal Injury After a Car Crash?
A serious spinal injury caused by a car wreck can take a devastating toll on your life. Medical bills pile up, and in some cases, you may require treatment, therapy, and care long into the future. If you are no longer able to work, where will the money for these rehabilitative costs come from?
If another driver is responsible for the crash that caused your spinal injuries, you could bring a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party. Each case is different, however, and in many instances, it is advisable to file an ICBC claim first.
If the other driver is insured by ICBC, filing a lawsuit might be unnecessary if they are clearly at fault. Even if fault is disputed, your own policy could help you recover benefits for any neck, back, or spinal cord injury you receive. Preszler Injury Lawyers is a personal injury law firm that is ready to go the extra mile to represent your rights after a vehicle accident and work to get you the maximum compensation you are entitled to.
Types of spinal injuries
The most severe spinal injuries can lead to paralysis. These injuries can result in the loss of your ability to use or feel certain parts of your body. Paralysis injuries are costly to recover from, and many are permanent. The types of paralysis injuries include:
- Monoplegia. Paralysis that impacts a single limb.
- Hemiplegia. Paralysis that impacts the arm and leg on the same side of the body.
- Paraplegia. Paralysis from the waist down.
- Quadriplegia. Paralysis from the neck down.
The changes required to the life of a person with a paralysis injury can be enormous. Our car accident law firm is ready and able to help make sure your needs are met following a spinal cord injury.
Identifying a spinal injury
Following a car crash, the severity of your injuries may not immediately be clear. This is especially true with certain neck injuries. When the soft tissue in the neck is damaged, it can take days, weeks, or longer for the symptoms to become clear. Seemingly minor injuries could lead to permanent consequences over time. This means it is crucial to seek medical treatment immediately after the accident.
Injuries to the back often result in acute back pain. This acute pain can last for days or weeks, and in many cases, it can be debilitating. After this pain subsides, it is not uncommon for chronic pain to continue indefinitely. This pain is often less severe than the injuries immediately after an accident, but it can be permanent in some cases.
The spine plays an important role in how the brain communicates with the body, so any damage to it could interfere with your day to day routine significantly. Spinal damage could prevent the brain from sending signals to the rest of the body, making it difficult to control those body parts. Nerve signals from the skin could also be prevented from transmitting to the brain.
Other symptoms of a neck injury could include:
- Muscle spasms
- Swelling
- Inflammation
- Muscle weakness
- Pain
- Numbness or tingling
How Preszler Injury Lawyers could help
It is important that you seek treatment for a neck injury immediately. Even if you are unsure if the injury is serious, there is little room for error when it comes to spinal damage.
Once your medical situation is stabilized, it could be in your best interest to discuss your options with a car accident lawyer. At Preszler Injury Lawyers, we stand ready to assist you in pursuing maximum compensation for your injury claim.
In many cases, this will involve guiding you through the ICBC claims process. We can help with everything from filing a claim to dealing with a denial. In some cases, however, an injury lawsuit could be necessary. To discuss your litigation options, reach out to Preszler Injury Lawyers immediately to set up a free case evaluation.
