Spokane Car Accident Spine Injury Lawyer

The spine is one of the most critical parts of the human body. Supporting the body with structure and stability, the spine enables the body to move freely, giving us the ability to walk and participate in a variety of physical activities. Damage to the spine can be devastating, potentially causing permanent and life-altering consequences.

The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center estimates that there are about 12,500 new spinal cord injuries each year in the United States. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause, accounting for almost 40 percent of new spinal cord injuries, followed by falls.

Because spinal cord injuries can be catastrophic, causing paralysis and other trauma, it is crucial that injured victims retain a Spokane car accident spine injury lawyer from Craig Swapp & Associates to help them seek compensation from those responsible.

Spokane Spinal Cord Injuries Are Serious

Most car accident spinal cord injuries are caused by trauma to the vertebrae, usually from a sudden impact to the neck or back compressing the spine. When a vertebra is crushed or damaged, the spinal cord may lose its ability to send and receive messages from the brain to the rest of the body, a condition known as paralysis.

The number one cause of Spokane spinal cord injuries is motor vehicle accidents. It is critical to seek medical care immediately following trauma to the neck, back, or spine in order to provide yourself with the best chance for recovery.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are divided into “incomplete” and “complete” categories. An incomplete spinal cord injury is when the spinal cord is only partially severed, allowing the injured person to retain some function, depending on the severity of the injury. A complete spinal cord injury is when the spinal cord is fully severed, damaged to the point that the injured person does not have any function.

Spinal cord injuries are also categorized according to location and severity. The most common types of spinal cord injuries include the following:

• Tetraplegia – This is typically the most severe of all spinal cord injuries, as it includes damage to the cervical (neck) spine. Also known as quadriplegia, tetraplegia causes paralysis of the entire body below the site of the injury.
• Paraplegia – This occurs when sensation and movement are removed from the lower half of the body, including the legs. These injuries are the product of damage to the thoracic spinal cord. Many people with thoracic spinal injuries can lead mostly normal lives as they have movement in their arms and hands.
• Triplegia – Triplegia is typically the product of an incomplete spinal cord injury causing the loss of sensation and movement in one arm and both legs.

Spinal Cord Injuries Can Have Serious Consequences

Each year, millions of Americans suffer less severe—but still painful and debilitating—injuries to the neck and spine in car accidents. For example, car accidents can affect the neck and upper spinal area, causing whiplash.

Whiplash occurs when your head is thrown in a forward whipping motion, backward or sideways, forcing the ligaments and tendons in the neck to stretch farther than their normal range. Whiplash can result in serious nerve damage or cause discomfort from muscle strain.

Other than paralysis, common car accident spine injuries can include muscular strains, herniated discs, arthritic spurring, and nerve damage causing extensive pain. These injuries often require medical treatment, physical therapy, and rehabilitation—expenses you shouldn’t be responsible for.

Contact a Spokane Car Accident Injury Lawyer

If you have suffered paralysis or a spinal cord injury in a car accident, our Spokane personal injury lawyers are here to help. With years of experience and a history of successful settlements for our clients, the lawyers at Craig Swapp & Associates provide clients throughout the state of Washington with aggressive, personalized representation.

Contact a Spokane car accident spine injury lawyer at Craig Swapp & Associates to schedule a free confidential consultation and case evaluation. We are here to help. Call 1-855-628-5050 today, or complete our contact form below to have someone from our office contact you.