If you have been seriously injured in a Florida car accident that has resulted in a spinal cord injury, a Florida car accident lawyer can help determine if someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, and can help you understand your options to seek compensation.
An experienced Florida car accident lawyer can also help you determine who may be held liable for your spinal cord injury and what type of damages to request. In addition, a Florida car accident lawyer can help gather all of the necessary evidence to support your claim.
Overview of a Spinal Cord Injury from a Florida Car Accident
A spinal cord injury from a Florida car accident can be devastating. Spinal cord injuries are potentially life-threatening and life-changing.
Spinal cords are about 18 inches in length and extend from the base of the brain to the waist. Nerves within the spinal cord help carry messages back and forth from the brain. Other nerves in the spinal cord communicate with other parts of the body.
Since the brain and spinal cord make up the body’s central nervous system, injuries to this area can affect other areas of the body. Typically the higher an injury occurs on the spinal cord, the greater the severity.
Injuries that occur with the cervical vertebra generally result in quadriplegia, which is a loss of function in the arms and legs. Injuries that occur in the thoracic region generally result in paraplegia, which is a loss of function from the chest down.
Effects of a Spinal Cord Injury from a Florida Car Accident
The effects of a spinal cord injury from a Florida car accident will depend on the type and level of the injury. There are 2 main types of spinal cord injuries that can result from a Florida car accident: complete and incomplete.
Complete Spinal Cord Injury
A complete spinal cord injury occurs when there is no level of functioning below the area of the injury. This means the individual has no voluntary movement and also has no feeling or sensation below the area of injury. With a complete spinal cord injury, both sides of the body will be affected.
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
An incomplete spinal cord injury occurs when there is some level of functioning below the area of the injury. An individual with this type of spinal cord injury may be able to feel some parts of their body even if they cannot move them. Or they may have more functioning ability on one side compared to the other side.
For example, an individual with an incomplete spinal cord injury may be able to move one limb but not another limb. There are a number of variances that can occur with this type of spinal cord injury.
Other Effects of a Spinal Cord Injury
There are also other effects of a spinal cord injury that can result from a Florida car accident. These can range from mild to severe, depending on the severity of the spinal cord injury.
Other effects of a spinal cord injury may include:
- bowel/bladder difficulties;
- impaired sexual functioning (including fertility);
- inability to breathe on your own;
- chronic pain;
- inability to sweat below the area of the injury;
- inability to regulate blood pressure properly;
- lack of body temperature control; and
- low blood pressure.
If you have been seriously injured in a Florida car accident and it has resulted in a spinal cord injury, you should seek the help of a Florida car accident lawyer. Your Florida car accident lawyer can help you file a Florida personal injury claim and that accounts for both your immediate and long-term medical needs.
Finding a Florida Car Accident Lawyer
The chances are good that you have never needed the services of a car accident lawyer until now. While you are in the midst of this exhausting personal challenge, you’ll be forced to make some very important decisions, not the least of which is hiring a Florida car accident lawyer.
At times like these, don’t leave your decision up to something as risky as chance. Find the Right Attorney takes the guesswork out of choosing the attorney who is best qualified to handle your claim. Palm Beach car accident lawyer Theodore Babbitt will personally review your case at no cost and tell you if you have a valid claim. He will then use his resources, including his membership in numerous esteemed legal groups, to find the right Florida car accident lawyer to handle your case. Fill out our online form or call to get started – 877-751-8087