According to an estimate by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 11,000 people in the U.S. sustain spinal cord injuries each year. The CDC cites car accidents as the leading cause of spinal cord injuries among people under age 65.A spinal cord injury happens when trauma to the spine causes it to fracture or when trauma crushes or dislocates the vertebrae.
How the Spinal Cord Works
The spinal cord is positioned between the base of the brain and the waist. The job of the spinal cord, along with the brain, is to control the body’s movements. This is done through the central nervous system; the nerve fibers located on the spinal cord carry messages from the brain to the body. The vertebrae surround the spinal cord.
Spinal Cord Injuries
When a car or truck accident causes a spinal cord injury, a person may become unable to move, and may lose feeling at the site of the injury. A spinal cord injury is categorized as “complete” or “incomplete.” If it is a complete spinal cord injury, this means that the person has lost nerve function and the ability to control any movement below the injury site. An incomplete spinal cord injury, on the other hand, does not extinguish all ability to feel or move below site of the injury.
Compensation for Your Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injuries are usually permanent and require lifelong treatment. If you or a loved have sustained injuries in a Houston car or truck accident, you may be entitled to compensation. In many circumstances, an injury victim will need lifetime medical treatment, rehabilitative care, and medical equipment. Spinal cord injury victims may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering and for past, present, and future medical care and lost wages. Call 713-807-9500 or 877-307-9500 to speak with a Houston auto accident attorney at Denena & Points.