Spinal cord injuries are among the most prominent personal injuries after a motorcycle accident. The probability of spinal cord injuries after a motorcycle accident is likely to be far more common compared to other motor vehicle collisions.
Spinal cord injuries occur when there is damage to the spinal cord, which is a bundle of nerves that carries signals between the brain and the rest of the body. Motorcycle accidents can result in various types of spinal cord injuries, including:
- Complete Spinal Cord Injury: It occurs when there is a total loss of sensory and motor function below the level of injury. It typically results in paralysis below the affected area.
- Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: It refers to partial damage to the spinal cord, resulting in varying degrees of sensory and motor function loss. The extent of impairment can vary depending on the specific location and severity of the injury.
An experienced San Antonio Motorcycle Accident Lawyer can play a crucial role in helping you seek compensation for a spinal cord injury sustained in a motorcycle accident. They can provide comprehensive legal guidance throughout the process, ensuring you understand your rights, and can often help conduct a thorough investigation into the motorcycle crash.
What are Spinal Cord Injuries?
Spinal cord injuries occur when there is damage to the spinal cord, which is a bundle of nerves that runs from the base of the brain down the back. The spinal cord is vital in transmitting messages between the brain and the rest of the body, allowing for sensory and motor function.
These injuries can result from various causes, including traumatic accidents like slips and falls, car crashes, sports injuries, and motorcycle accidents. They can also occur due to non-traumatic causes such as diseases, infections, or tumors affecting the spinal cord.
The severity and effects of spinal cord injuries depend on the location and extent of the damage. The spinal cord is divided into four regions:
- Cervical (neck)
- Thoracic (upper back)
- Lumbar (lower back)
- Sacral (pelvic region)
Injuries higher up in the spinal cord tend to have more severe consequences.
Consequences of a Spinal Cord Injury
The impact of a spinal cord injury can vary widely from individual to individual. Sometimes, it may cause brain injury, excessive back pain, and more. Consequences may include:
- Paralysis: Spinal cord injuries can lead to paralysis, affecting one or more limbs. The level and extent of paralysis depend on the location and severity of the injury. Paraplegia refers to paralysis of the lower body, while tetraplegia refers to paralysis of both the arms and legs.
- Loss of Sensation: Spinal cord injuries can result in reduced or loss of sensation below the level of injury. This can affect the ability to feel touch, temperature, and pain in the affected areas.
- Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction: Spinal cord injuries can disrupt normal bladder and bowel function, leading to difficulties with urinary and fecal control.
- Respiratory Issues: Depending on the level of the spinal cord injury, there may be respiratory complications, as the injury can affect the muscles involved in breathing.
- Secondary Health Issues: Spinal cord injuries can increase the risk of secondary health problems such as pressure sores, muscle atrophy, blood clots, urinary tract infections, and respiratory infections.
Treatment and management of spinal cord injuries typically involve a multidisciplinary approach, including medical care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and psychological support. The specific treatment plan will depend on the individual’s condition and needs.
How to Establish Liability in Spinal Cord Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents
Establishing liability in personal injury cases typically involves proving that another party was at fault for the accident. Some steps that can help establish liability are:
- Gathering Evidence: Collect as much evidence as possible from the accident scene.
- Police Report: Obtain a copy of the police report filed at the accident scene. The report can provide details about the parties involved, their statements, and the officer’s assessment of the accident.
- Medical Records: Keep all medical records related to your spinal cord injury.
- Medical Testimony: In cases of spinal cord injuries, testimony from medical professionals can be vital.
- Negligence: To establish liability, you must prove that another party was negligent and their careless or reckless actions, or inactions, caused the accident.
- Damages: Document the damages you have suffered due to the spinal cord injury, including medical expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, and potential future expenses related to ongoing care and treatment.
Need Legal Help? Contact Khattar Law P.C.
If you have sustained spinal cord injuries after a motorcycle crash in San Antonio, Texas, consult an experienced law firm, such as Khattar Law, P.C. With their extensive experience, they can help establish liability in spinal cord injury cases by investigating the cause of the accident, identifying responsible parties, collecting evidence, establishing negligence, and determining the full extent of damages.
Schedule a free consultation or complete our contact form online to discuss your legal options. You can even call us at 210-791-0817 to learn more about your case.