Common Spinal Injuries From Car Accidents

While every situation is unique, there are certain types of injuries that occur more frequently than others. The following are some of the most common spinal injuries from car accidents:

Herniated Disc

A herniated disc occurs when the gel-like center of a disc ruptures and bulges out through the cracked outer layer. The disc can then press on nearby nerves and cause pain, numbness, or weakness in an arm or leg. Herniated discs often require surgery to correct.

Fractured Vertebrae

Vertebrae are the bones that make up the spine. A fractured vertebra occurs when one of these bones is broken as a result of impact from an accident. A fractured vertebra can cause severe pain and may require surgery to heal properly. In some cases, it can also lead to paralysis.

Dislocated Vertebrae

A dislocated vertebra occurs when the vertebra moves out of its normal position. This can happen as a result of a direct blow or sudden impact to the spine. A dislocated vertebra can also pinch or damage the spinal cord and nerves, leading to pain, numbness, and weakness.

Spinal Cord Contusion

A spinal cord contusion is a bruise on the spinal cord. A contusion can happen if there is a direct blow to the spine or if the spine twists or bends beyond its normal range of motion. A contusion can lead to swelling and bleeding within the spinal cord, which can damage nerve fibers and cause pain, numbness, and weakness.

Compression Fracture

A compression fracture occurs when the vertebrae collapse due to impact from an accident. This type of fracture usually affects the lower back and can cause severe pain. Compression fractures often require surgery to correct.

These are some of the most common spinal cord injuries caused by car accidents. If you or a loved one have been involved in a car accident and are experiencing any pain, numbness, or weakness, it is important to seek medical attention immediately as these could be signs of a serious injury. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you navigate your options and get you the compensation you deserve.

A car accident can happen in the blink of an eye, but the repercussions can last a lifetime. When injuries sustained in a car accident involve the spine, the long-term effects can be significant and permanent. If you or a loved one has been in a car accident and sustained a spinal injury, it's important to understand the potential long-term effects and how they may impact your life.

Paralysis

One of the most serious potential effects of a spinal injury is paralysis. This can range from partial paralysis, which may allow you to still move some parts of your body, to complete paralysis, which means you will be unable to move any part of your body.

Pain and Discomfort

Even if your spinal injury does not cause paralysis, it can still lead to a great deal of pain and discomfort. This pain may be constant or intermittent, and it can make it difficult to perform everyday tasks or enjoy activities that you once enjoyed.

Difficulty Breathing

A spinal injury can also cause difficulty with breathing, as well as other respiratory problems. This is because the spinal cord controls many of the body's involuntary functions, including breathing.

Emotional Difficulties

In addition to the physical challenges posed by a spinal injury, there are also often emotional difficulties that accompany such an injury. These can include depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

These are just some examples of how a spinal injury sustained in a car accident can have lasting consequences. If you or someone you love has been in a car accident and sustained a spinal injury, it's important to seek immediate medical attention. From there, you should consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal options and ensure that your rights are protected.

If you've been in a car accident that has caused spinal injuries, you may be wondering what kind of compensation you can expect to receive. While every case is different, there are certain types of damages that are commonly awarded in personal injury cases involving spinal injuries. The most common include the following:

Past and Future Medical Expenses

Medical expenses are commonly awarded in personal injury cases involving spinal injuries. These damages can include both the cost of past medical treatment as well as the cost of future medical treatment that is reasonably expected to be necessary as a result of the accident. In cases involving serious or permanent spinal injuries, these damages can be quite substantial.

Lost Wages and Loss of Earning Capacity

These damages are intended to compensate an accident victim for wages that they would have earned had they not been injured in the accident. In addition, if your injuries have resulted in a loss of earning capacity—meaning you are unable to earn the same amount of money as you did prior to the accident—you may also be able to recover damages for this loss.

Pain and Suffering Damages

Pain and suffering damages are intended to compensate an accident victim for the physical and emotional anguish that they have experienced as a result of their injuries. These damages can be awarded for both the pain that an individual has already experienced as well as the pain that they are reasonably expected to experience in the future.

When most people think about car accidents, they presume that the person who caused the accident is automatically at fault. However, that's not always the case. In fact, depending on which state you live in, the definition of "fault" can be very different

In a fault state, the person who caused the accident is held liable for any damages that occur as a result of the accident. This means that if you're involved in an accident where someone else is at fault, you can file a claim with their insurance company to receive compensation for your damages.

A no-fault state is just the opposite of a fault state; in these states, each driver's own insurance company pays for their damages, regardless of who caused the accident.

If your insurance or the other party’s insurance doesn’t cover your costs, you can consider filing a personal injury claim against the other driver.

To determine who's at fault in a car accident, there are a few things that are taken into consideration. First, you need to look at the damage to each car. This can help give you an idea of which driver was likely at fault. For example, if one car has rear-end damage and the other has front-end damage, it's likely that the driver with front-end damage was at fault.

Another thing to consider is witnesses. If there are any witnesses to the accident, their testimony can be helpful in determining who is at fault. It's important to get as many witness statements as possible. The more statements you have, the more likely it is that you'll be able to get an accurate picture of what happened.

It’s also helpful to look at the police report. The police report will contain information about the accident, as well as any citations that were given out. This can be helpful in determining who was at fault. However, it's important to keep in mind that the police report is not always 100% accurate. So, if there are any discrepancies between the police report and what you believe happened, it's important to bring this up with your lawyer.

Ultimately, when you hire a personal injury lawyer, they will investigate the accident and help you present the strongest case possible for why you weren’t at fault and deserve compensation from the other driver or their insurance company.

The answer to this question depends on what state you live in. Some states follow a pure comparative negligence rule when it comes to car accidents. This rule allows plaintiffs to recover damages even if they were partially at fault for the accident. The award of damages will be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to the plaintiff. So, if a plaintiff is determined to be 50% at fault, then their damages will be reduced by 50%. Under this rule, the plaintiff can collect damages even if they’re 99% at fault.

Other states have adopted a modified comparative negligence rule. Under this rule, a plaintiff can only recover damages if their fault is less than 50% or 51% (depending on the state).

Finally, a few states have adopted a contributory negligence rule. This rule completely bars a plaintiff from recovering any damages if they were even 1% at fault for the accident.

Choosing the right personal injury lawyer can make all the difference in the outcome of your case, which is where Morgan & Morgan comes in. Our lawyers will communicate with you throughout the entire process so you’re never left in the dark about the status of your case. As the largest personal injury firm in America, we have the resources to thoroughly investigate your claim and fight even the largest insurance companies. We have been handling these types of claims for decades and have obtained billions of dollars for our clients. 

To get started, contact Morgan & Morgan today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.