You’ve been in a head-on collision that has resulted in a spinal injury, but what happens next? The legal system, although complex, provides a means for those who have suffered as a result of another person’s actions to seek justice. Your right to file a personal injury claim was established to help victims recover physically, psychologically, and financially.
Why Are Spinal Injuries So Devastating?
The spine is one of the most vital yet vulnerable parts of the human body. A traumatic injury that affects the spine can have lifelong repercussions. When the bones, muscles, tendons, and nerves of the spine are damaged, it can cause severe chronic pain, limited mobility, and paralysis. If the spine is injured, there is also a significant risk of spinal cord damage. The spinal cord is a fundamental part of the body that processes millions of signals daily.
The spinal cord sends motor commands from the brain to the body for conscious movements, such as walking and eating. The spinal cord also receives signals from the body, which result in reflexive movements, such as pulling your hand away from a hot stove. These reflexive movements can happen so fast that the brain doesn’t even have time to register the sensory input. Spinal cord injuries can result in loss of sensation, mobility challenges, and paralysis.
Types of Spinal Injuries
Spinal fractures are breaks in the bones that make up the spinal column. Hairline fractures may be incredibly painful, but they won’t necessarily have a lasting impact. Severe breaks, on the other hand, can cause the entire spine to collapse, which is catastrophic and often results in permanent paralysis. A herniated disc occurs when the soft center of a vertebra is pushed out of its normal position, putting immense pressure on the surrounding spinal nerves.
Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which a vertebra slips out of its normal position, causing compression, nerve damage, and severe pain. Spinal cord injuries, as we discussed, can be devastating because the spinal cord plays such a critical role in the body’s physical abilities. All these spinal injuries can happen as a direct result of a head-on collision.
How Head-On Collisions Cause Spinal Injuries
Head-on collisions place an immense pressure on the body due to rapid deceleration and impact with an opposing force that compresses the spine. The affected area often dictates the severity of a spinal injury. The spine is composed of three regions: the cervical spine (upper back and neck), the thoracic spine (mid-back), and the lumbar spine (lower back).
When the spine is injured, the effects are typically felt below the injury site, which is why injuries that occur in the cervical spine can be so dangerous. When the spinal cord is damaged in the neck area, the victim may experience full-body paralysis, which is normally untreatable. Some people do recover some movement, but most are permanently disabled.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim After a Head-On Crash
After a car accident that causes spinal injuries, the injured party may file a personal injury claim with the at-fault party’s insurance provider. A personal injury claim aims to help the victim recover the damages incurred as a result of their injury. Losses can be categorized into two types: economic and non-economic. There is an additional category called punitive damages, which is only awarded in specific circumstances.
Economic
Economic damages refer to financial losses, such as hospital fees, rehabilitation costs, surgical procedures, specialist consultation fees, and medication expenses. You may also incur additional expenses, such as assistive devices, home modifications, and in-home medical care. If your injuries keep you away from work for an extended period or prevent you from working ever again, your lost wages and employment benefits are also part of economic damages.
Non-Economic
Non-economic damages refer to losses that cannot be readily quantified in monetary terms. Physical pain and suffering, psychological turmoil, loss of enjoyment of life, reduced quality of life, lost independence, and loss of companionship are all non-economic damages. It’s critical to include non-economic damages in your claim, as they also have a profound impact on your life.
Punitive
Punitive damages are awarded at the court’s discretion if it decides the at-fault party’s actions were particularly heinous. Punitive damages are rare, and the behavior resulting in your injuries must demonstrate a wanton disregard for the safety of others, willful negligence, or intentional malice.
Seek Remuneration With HHJ Trial Attorneys
Pursuing legal action is a critical part of the recovery process after a traumatic injury. If you or a loved one has experienced a spinal injury as a result of a head-on collision, contact HHJ Trial Attorneys. Our team of expert personal injury attorneys will help you recoup your losses so you can move on with the next phase of your life. We are passionate about helping accident victims maintain their financial security and pursue justice for their injuries. Your consultation is free, and we don’t get paid unless you do.
