Spinal cord injuries are a very serious injury that can change the life of those who receive one forever. They not only take a toll on the victims but also their families. This is not something that gets better overnight. Spinal cord injuries can take months and sometimes years to recover from. You may not recover fully from the injuries either.
The complex spinal cord
The spinal cord is long and extends from the base of the brain down to the buttocks. It is approximately 45 cm to 64 cm long and travels down the middle of the lumbar region. The spinal cord is protected from the spinal column and features a bundle of nerve fibers that have the job of transmitting signals from the brain to all other parts of the body. These nerves control the main body functions which include:
• Breathing
• Moving
• Seeing
• Walking
• Touching/ feeling
When the spinal column is injured, it can cause damage to the spinal cord. If the nerves inside the spinal column become damages in a certain area, they cannot transmit signals from the brain to other parts of the body like they did before. The result is loss of body functions and that could include being paralyzed, partially or fully, temporarily or permanently.
How important is the spinal cord? Think of what happens when you touch a pot on the stove that has boiling water inside. The signals travel from the nerve fibers in the spinal cord down to the fingers in a matter of a second and transmit the feelings of pain so you yank the hand away from the hot surface. If you suffered some type of spinal injury, the reflexes would then move slower or not at all, depending on the severity of the injury. To get compensation, it is important that you seek the services of an Injury Lawyer in Richmond Hill.
Causes of spinal cord injuries
There are many causes of spinal cord injuries. These causes include:
• Automobile accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Sports injuries
• Diving accidents
• Falls
• Intentional physical assault
• Compensation for spinal cord injuries
When an injuries occurs to the spinal cord, you may be left with a lot of pain and discomfort at any degree. The more severe the injuries are, the more damage that is done which results in some form of paralysis. If a spinal cord is severed completely, it can cause death.
• Common signs of a spinal cord injury include
• Inability to walk normal
• Numbness and/or tingling in the extremities
• Impaired breathing
• Unable to move a certain part of your body
The compensation that may be awarded to someone that has received a spinal cord injury due to the negligence of another person can be used for such things as
• Loss of income
• Loss of future income
• Medical care
• Cost of equipment
• Rehabilitation
• Cost of home health and other related services