25 June 2015
 Categories: Law, Blog

When you have been injured in a car accident and suffer from some pain, it is imperative to seek out medical treatment. Auto accidents account for about 35% of spinal cord injuries every year according to the Mayo Clinic. When you damage your spinal cord, it is not able to transport the messages from the cord to the brain. This is why it is important to get medical treatment right away when you have been injured in the accident. By notifying the responding officer of your injury, he will get you the medical help you need. Once you have been stabilized and are under the care of a doctor, you can then start deciding how to proceed. 

Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury

There are many symptoms you can face when you have encountered a spinal cord injury. Symptoms include not being able to walk, stiffness in the neck, nausea, headaches, and many more. When you begin feeling these types of symptoms, it is important to get help right away to avoid further injury. The severity of your injury has a lot to do where the injury occurred on your spine. Men between the ages of 15 and 35 are most at risk for spinal cord injuries. 

Types of Spinal Injuries

There are two types of spinal cord injuries. They are classified as complete and incomplete. If you are diagnosed with a complete spinal cord injury, then chances are you cannot feel any sensation below the damaged area. For an incomplete injury, you still have some sensations below the injured area. It is important to decipher which level you are at so you can seek the right treatment. 

Legal Advice

Medical treatment for a spinal injury can take days to months until you recover. Some people never fully recover from a spinal injury. While seeking medical treatment, you still have to deal with the accident details. The best way to handle this and find out what your rights are is by calling your personal injury lawyer. If you are still in the hospital, they will come see you. This is beneficial because it allows you to get the work done without having to put it off.

The sooner you can hand over the details of the case, the quicker the lawyer can get it all resolved. Based on the facts of the case, your lawyer will advise you as to what your rights are and how to move forward with the case. If the accident was not your fault, you may be able to seek compensation with the help of someone like Herbert E. Maxey Jr., PC. Your doctor should be able to work with the lawyer to discuss your medical issues you have faced as a result of the accident.