There are many different types of significant injuries that people can sustain in a car crash. People tend to fear injuries that they associate with decreased quality of life more than other potential injuries. Spinal cord injuries are among the best-known and most feared traumatic injuries that people can sustain in a motor vehicle collision.
People generally expect to recognize a spinal cord injury as soon as it occurs. Some people may also expect to undergo treatment that could help them recover lost function after a spinal cord injury. These expectations may come in part from depictions of spinal cord injuries in popular media. Most people do not know anyone with a spinal cord injury, which can limit their understanding of these injuries.
Do individuals with spinal cord injuries caused by car crashes ever recover?
Some injuries respond to treatment
The severity of the spinal cord injury largely determines whether treatment can help improve the patient’s condition. There are two main classifications of spinal cord injuries. People sustain either complete or incomplete injuries.
Doctors usually indicate the completeness of the injury when diagnosing the injured person. They also tend to identify the injury based on the vertebra or spinal bone closest to the spinal cord injury. The higher on the spine the injury is, the more of the body it may affect.
A complete spinal cord injury cuts through or tears the spinal cord. The injured party notices an immediate loss of sensation and motor control. While there are some incredible cutting-edge technologies that may offer hope for those with complete spinal cord injuries, current treatment options cannot overcome the damage caused by a complete spinal cord injury.
However, incomplete spinal cord injuries do sometimes respond to treatment. With surgical intervention and rehabilitation support, people can regain some lost function after an incomplete spinal cord injury.
That being said, the potential also exists for them to sustain secondary damage that worsens the injury. They may have to limit their activities to protect themselves. Even incomplete spinal cord injuries typically result in lifetime impairment and significantly increased medical expenses.
Those adjusting to life with major car crash injuries often need compensation to help cover the costs of their medical care and replace their lost income. Seeking legal guidance can help those injured in a car crash better understand their next steps.