A car accident can leave you with a variety of injuries. One of the most common yet devastating injuries you can suffer after a car crash is an injury to the spine.
If you hurt your spine during a car crash that is not your fault, you may pursue the liable party for damages. But how do you know you sustained this type of injury in the first place?
Understanding spinal cord injuries
The spinal cord is a gelatinous band of tissue that connects the brain to the lower back. A spinal cord injury can damage the central nervous system (CNS) to interrupt an individual’s motor functions and sensory skills.
Depending on the severity of the injury, the accident victim can suffer from either paraplegia or quadriplegia. Paraplegia is when the accident victim’s limbs, trunk and pelvic organs are impacted by the injury. Quadriplegia, on the other hand, happens when parts of the limbs, trunk and pelvic organs are impacted by the injury. Quadriplegia is common when the area of impact is higher in the back like the neck area.
Common symptoms of spinal cord injury
No two spinal cord injuries are alike. Additionally, most spinal cord injury symptoms are never apparent immediately following the crash. This underpins the importance of seeking treatment as soon as possible following the crash. That said, here are some of the symptoms you need to look out for if you suspect an injury to the spine after a car crash:
- Stiffness of the neck that is accompanied by sharp pain.
- Migraine at the base of the skull
- Muscle spasms in the back and the limbs
- Loss of mobility below the injured spot
- Reduced sensation
After a frightening car crash, you might be less than ready to sue the other party for damages. If you sustain life-altering injuries, however, it is in your best interest that you pursue the negligent party for compensation within the statute of limitations period.