Nobody who regularly drives on our busy highways thinks that they are likely to get badly injured in an automobile accident, but the statistics indicate this is the most likely way we could get injured. Many people think that they are careful enough to be able to avoid an accident, but there is always the chance encounter with somebody who is a lot less thoughtful and may be drunk or under the influence of drugs.
Contact a lawyer if you have been injured by somebody else’s stupidity or negligence
If you are injured in an automobile accident and it was not your fault, then you should try and contact an accident attorney as soon as possible after the accident to discuss your options. This is especially important if you have suffered from a serious injury such as a spinal cord injury.
Unfortunately, injuries to the spinal cord are all too common in even minor vehicle accidents. The impact of a collision can crush the individual vertebrae of the spine and small fragments of bone can then dent and sever the sensitive nerve fibres that run down within the column.
Nerve fibres cannot repair themselves
Although not all damage to the spine itself is irreversible, any damage to the nerve fibres is usually hard to treat, as these cells do not normally replace themselves. There is some hope in the future that stem cell research will enable surgeons to stimulate nerve cells into replication so that damaged tissue can repair itself, but the medical technique is still well in the future.
Serious spinal cord injuries can mean paralysis or severe loss of function to the parts of the body below the area of the spinal cord that has been damaged. In particular, the voluntary muscles are usually no longer under conscious control and the damage can affect organs such as the bladder, bowels and lungs.
The worst case scenario is tetraplegia, which is a condition in which the entire body below the neck loses all feeling and voluntary control.
Anybody with serious spinal cord injuries as a result of a vehicle accident will need huge changes in the way they live and will be dependent on members of their family, close friends and support personnel for a very long time, if not the rest of their life.
It is vital, in this situation, that the accident victim is able to gain a satisfactory settlement in compensation for their full injuries by the person who was responsible for the accident. It requires a dedicated and experienced accident attorney to assess the full needs of a person with spinal cord injuries and negotiate a fair and full payment.
Most accident attorneys offer a contingency fee service
If you, or a loved one, has been injured and your spinal cord is damaged, then the sooner you get your situation assessed by an attorney the better. Personal injury attorneys rarely require an upfront fee and most work on a contingency fee basis, so there is absolutely nothing to lose by contacting one. You only pay for legal fees when your claim has been settled and your compensation payout is in the bank.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, learn how to protect your rights with a free consultation. Contact our experienced Auto Accident Attorneys.
