A motor vehicle accident has the potential to leave individuals with serious injuries that could impact the rest of their lives. Some of the most common serious injuries are those that impact the spinal cord. This type of damage may leave a victim with paralysis in different parts of his or her body, and there may be no recovery from this. Those suffering from spinal cord injuries may require extensive care for the rest of their lives.
Damage to the spine and its effects
Spinal cord injuries are often the result of a traumatic event, such as a car accident. The impact of a car collision can affect the spine, and the four most common types of spinal cord injuries are thoracic, cervical, sacral and lumbar. The location of a spinal cord injury is a significant factor in the impact of this type of injury and how it affects the victim.
When the injury is in the neck area of the spine, it is possible the person will experience quadriplegia, which is a loss of movement in all limbs and everywhere below the point of injury. Other types of traumas to the spine can result in loss of movement in the arms or legs, as well as loss of other functions of the body.
Long-term help and support
These types of injuries often require long-term support and help to recover or simply to function in daily life. If a North Carolina car accident victim is suffering from this type of injury as a result of the actions of another driver, that individual could have valid grounds to pursue a personal injury claim. The civil justice system provides the opportunity to pursue financial recovery and justice.