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Every year, thousands of car accident victims sustain serious spinal cord injuries that can have lifelong consequences. These injuries are caused by a direct blow to the spine or trauma to the surrounding tissues and bones. In this blog post, we'll take a look at how different types of car accidents can lead to spinal cord injuries and what steps victims can take to begin their recovery process.
Rear-End Crashes
Rear-end car accidents can lead to serious spinal cord injuries. The force of the impact can cause the victim’s body to forcefully jerk backward, resulting in a fracture or dislocation of the vertebrae in the spine. In some cases, this abrupt motion can sever or compress the spinal cord, leading to permanent paralysis in as little as 5 seconds.
Front Impact Crashes
In a frontal impact collision, one vehicle slams into another from the front. This type of crash is likely to lead to traumatic brain injury as well as spinal cord injury due to its violent nature, as the driver's head is usually forcefully thrown forward. Injuries such as compression fractures, vertebral dislocation, and shattered vertebrae can cut off all nerve signals that travel between the brain and the lower body.
If there is severe damage to the spinal column, it can often result in permanent paralysis or loss of feeling below the affected area. Frontal impacts are often caused by distracted drivers who do not pay attention to their surroundings or impaired drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Side-Impact Crashes
Side-impact crashes occur when one vehicle crashes into another from the side. Side-impact collisions are particularly dangerous because they carry a high risk of crushing and rollover accidents due to their force and directionality—the side doors on vehicles offer less protection than other areas, such as the front and rear bumpers. Some common side-impact crash causes include
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Running red lights
- Failing to yield the right-of-way.
Victims should be aware that these types of crashes increase their risk for spinal cord injury significantly more than other types of collisions do.
Catastrophic Injury and Car Accident Attorney in Tallahassee, FL
Spinal cord injuries are debilitating conditions that can have lasting effects on victims' lives for many years after an accident has occurred. If you have been involved in any type of car accident—whether it is a rear-end crash, frontal impact crash or side impact crash—you should seek medical attention immediately if you suspect you may have sustained a spinal cord injury so that you can begin your recovery process as soon as possible.
Taking legal action against negligent drivers who cause these types of accidents may also help victims recover compensation for medical expenses related to treating their injuries as well as pain and suffering damages associated with those injuries. The car accident attorneys at Shapiro Law Firm, P.A. are dedicated to helping injured victims obtain the justice and compensation they deserve.
Call us today at (850) 629-7226 or schedule a free consultation by filling out our form.