Spinal Cord Injuries Caused by Truck Wrecks

Truck crashes are a common cause of spinal cord injuries. The victim of a Eighteen wheeler collision is many times left with little or no motor skills, impeding their daily range of activities. The victim is forced into a lifelong dependency on the help of close family and friends, pushing themselves and those close to them into emotional stress. A car crash lawyer understands the situation that the victim was thrust into and tries to get as much justice as possible.

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) brought on by trauma or disease cause temporary or permanent loss of movement, sensation and bowel control. Statistics show that more than 10,000 people are stricken with spinal cord injuries annually. A majority of SCI are caused by car crashes, with falls and sports accidents coming in a distant second and third.

Spinal cord injuries caused by big rig collisions are put in two classes - complete and incomplete. The injury is complete if there is no sensation or voluntary movement on either side of the body below the injured area. If the person has sensation or there is partial movement, then it is an incomplete injury.

Spinal cord injuries are described by the area of the vertebrae that has been injured. For example, if the neck area is hurt, it will be classified under cervical vertebrae. For instance, a C-5 injury means that the fifth cervical vertebra has been injured. Similarly, injuries below the neck are called T-1, T-2 and so forth. This classification system is valid for the lumbar and sacral vertebrae also.

Generally, it has been observed that in neck injuries, the paralysis spreads to all limbs, known as quadriplegia in medical terms. Thoracic injuries cause paralysis in the lower limbs called paraplegia. The extent of paralysis depends on the severity of the injury. The patient is able to retain some degree of movement in the case of incomplete cervical injury. If the injury is severe, as in the case of C-4 injuries, the victim will have to be put on a ventilator. Thoracic injury leaves functionality in the upper extremities. However, the lower body movement is impaired causing trouble with walking. Many other bodily functions like bowel and bladder control are also impaired, along with body temperature, blood pressure and pain levels.

As any vehicle accident lawyer will tell you, SCI have wide repercussions for the victim and his family. In a SCI, the spinal cord swells, causing a wide range of bodily dysfunction. There is currently no cure for SCI and the treatment is restricted to stabilizing the broken vertebrae, immobilizing the affected area and reducing the swelling. Aftercare includes rehabilitation, preparing the patient psychologically for wheelchair use.

A truck accident attorney will explain to you that no compensation is enough for an entire life spent in misery and pain. However, keeping in view the prohibitively high costs of medical care, such lawsuits become needed.