Neck, back and spinal cord injuries are common effects of traffic crashes in Oklahoma City, and they can leave injury victims facing time away from work, long-term care and extensive medical costs.
The Oklahoma personal injury lawyers at Carr & Carr Attorneys at Law understand the challenges that confront injury victims and their families, and we also know that initial insurance company settlement offers are rarely enough for victims’ needs.
If you or someone you love was hurt in an accident caused by another’s carelessness, please call us today at (405) 691-1600 for your free consultation.
You can also contact us online to tell us your story now. Our attorneys represent clients throughout Oklahoma via offices in Tulsa, and Oklahoma City.
Get A Free Consultation NowTypes of Neck, Back and Spine Injuries
Injuries to the neck, back and spine range in severity from minor to catastrophic. Common neck, back and spine injuries that result from motor vehicle accidents include but are not limited to:
- “Whiplash”: Whiplash is a general term applied to neck injuries caused by the jarring, back-and-forth movement of the head and neck typical of a sudden impact; it can result in neck pain, neck stiffness and headaches that often resolve within a few weeks but sometimes trigger chronic discomfort.
- Herniated discs: When a cushioned spinal cord disc is displaced, the spinal cord and/or corresponding nerves may absorb undue pressure that results in intense pain in the lower back.
- Lumbar sprains: The lumbar region includes the largest vertebrae and encompasses the surrounding muscles. A sprain in this region can leave victims in pain and with limited mobility as they recover.
- Spinal cord injuries: Injuries to the spinal cord itself can lead to varying levels of paralysis or even death.
Spinal cord injuries are among the most serious and most common injuries in traffic collisions. In fact, car accidents and motorcycle crashes are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in the United States; according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, motor vehicle crashes are responsible for about 40 percent of all spinal cord injuries.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is comprised of five sections:
- Cervical: The seven vertebrae from the skull’s bottom to the lower neck
- Thoracic: The 12 vertebrae that stretch from the upper shoulders through the middle back
- Lumbar: The five vertebrae that span the middle back to the lower back
- Sacrum: The five vertebrae from the lower back to the top of the tailbone
- Coccyx: The four vertebrae at the tailbone’s base
Spinal cord injuries are often categorized medically as incomplete or complete. In an incomplete spinal cord injury, the spinal cord can still relay information to and from the brain. In a complete spinal cord injury, no sensory or motor function exists below the location where the injury occurred.
The extent of the damage from a spinal cord injury depends in large part on where along the spinal column the injury occurred.
Injuries to the cervical region of the spine may cause:
- Loss of sensation below the neck
- Loss of respiratory function
- Paraplegia (paralysis of the lower body and legs)
- Quadriplegia (paralysis of all four limbs)
- Loss of control of bodily functions
- Loss of sexual function
Spinal cord injuries to the thoracic area may result in:
- Loss of sensation below the waist
- Paraplegia
- Loss of physical dexterity
- Loss of control of some bodily functions
- Loss of abdominal muscle control
Injuries to the lumbar and sacrum regions of the spine may lead to:
- Paraplegia
- Loss of leg muscle control
- Loss of bladder control
- Loss of sexual function
Injuries to the coccyx segment of the spinal column often heal with no chronic after-effects. However, these injuries are also painful, and recovery can be slow.
Compensation for Neck, Back and Spine Injuries
Even minor neck and back injuries may require time away from work and be accompanied by overwhelming medical expenses. Spinal cord injuries often necessitate permanent care.
Victims of neck, back and spinal cord injuries may be eligible for damages that include compensation for:
- Present and future medical costs
- Lost wages and/or loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Lifestyle modifications
If a loved one died due to spinal cord injury caused by another’s negligence, our attorneys may be able to help eligible survivors pursue compensation through a wrongful death claim.
Experienced Legal Help for Oklahoma Injury Victims
Our personal injury lawyers in Oklahoma City are dedicated to helping injury victims recover the financial security they need to cope with their injuries and move forward with their lives. As a law firm, our record of success spans more than 49 years and is built on our personalized attention to each client.
We offer free consultations to help you understand your options, and our lawyers work on a contingent-fee basis, which means we don’t get paid unless we win your case. Please call us today at (405) 691-1600 for your no-obligation consultation or contact us online.
We’re proud to serve clients throughout Oklahoma from our offices in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
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