The spinal cord is the critical messaging system between the brain and body, sending signals to control bodily movement and receiving sensation messages back. When the spinal cord sustains damage, it disrupts the brain’s ability to send and receive messages below the point of the injury.
Unfortunately, car accidents are one of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries in the United States. Recognizing the signs of a spinal cord injury after a car accident is crucial, not only for the injury victim but for those at the scene responsible for providing aid. Contact our Chicago spinal cord injury lawyer if you’ve been injured after an accident.
A collision causes tremendous strain on the body’s structural support system, including the vertebrae in the spinal column, which protects the spinal cord. The crash force of an accident propels the injury victim forward at the speed the car was traveling before the collision. Then, the seatbelt snaps them back against the seat. This crash force transforms a 120-pound person into a 7,800-pound force in a collision at 65 miles per hour. The powerful back-and-forth whipping motion the spinal column experiences in an accident can result in damage or the complete severing of the spinal cord.
Depending on the direction of the crash and whether the car rolls over, the spinal cord can also sustain damage from powerful rotational force or from severe compression as the vehicle’s structure collapses forcefully inward.
After a car accident, it’s essential to call 911 for help. While you are waiting for emergency services, instruct the person with a suspected spinal cord injury to hold completely still. If the individual has difficulty staying still, place one hand on each side of their head to stabilize their neck. If you have jackets or blankets, roll them up and place them on each side of the injured person to prevent them from rolling or shifting.
Only move the injury victim if it’s a life-threatening emergency, for instance, if they are vomiting or choking on blood. In that case, ask another person to help you stabilize the head, neck, and torso, then gently roll them onto their side. When paramedics arrive, alert them to the suspected spinal cord injury.
While severe trauma to the spinal cord, such as the complete shearing of the nerve bundles, can result in immediate paralysis, sometimes spinal cord injury symptoms develop slowly during the hours and even days after an accident as bleeding and inflammation inside the spinal column destroy delicate nerves. Signs of a spinal cord injury after an accident include the following:
If you or a close family member were in a car accident and experience any of the above signs of a spinal cord injury, it’s crucial to seek a thorough medical evaluation as soon as possible. Contact our car accident attorney in Chicago for legal assistance.
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