New Jersey Car Accident Spine Injury Attorneys

Proudly serving all of New Jersey

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Spinal Cord Trauma Caused by a Car Accident

Some of the most devastating injuries you can suffer in a car or motorcycle accident include damage to the vertebrae and spinal cord. Spinal cord damage can result in a loss of function such as mobility or feeling around and below the site of the trauma. The spinal cord does not have to be severed for a loss of physical ability to occur. Any amount of damage to the spinal cord can result in life-changing symptoms such as complete paralysis. If you or a loved one has suffered spinal cord trauma because of another driver’s negligence, please contact a skilled New Jersey spinal injury attorney who will help determine liability and hold the at-fault driver accountable for the losses sustained.

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The Spinal Cord

The spinal cord extends from the base of the brain down the middle of the back. The nerves of the spinal cord carry messages back and froth from the brain to the spinal nerves along the spinal tract. The vertebrae protect the spinal cord. So when the vertebrae are twisted, cracked, crushed, or pierced, there is the potential for serious spinal cord damage to occur.

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Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injuries

The location and severity of the trauma to the spinal cord will usually affect the resulting symptoms. Spinal cord trauma can be complete or incomplete. A complete spinal cord injury means that the damage resulted in no functions below the location of the damage. An incomplete injury means that there is some functioning below the damaged location. In such cases, the victim may be able to feel parts of their body or they may have more functioning on one side of the body than the other. Thanks to recent medical advancements, a number of people who would have suffered a complete spinal cord injury may now retain some functions. There are many victims, however, who will never regain use of their legs (paraplegia) or their legs and arms (quadriplegia).

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Determining Liability in NJ

Victims of spinal cord injuries often incur substantial medical bills, surgical costs, and physical therapy expenses on top of the costs of medical devices and medications. Additionally, many spinal cord injury victims will never again be able to provide for their families because they may never be able to rejoin the workforce because of their disabilities. In such cases, it must be determined who should cover these substantial financial losses. If the injuries resulted from a car accident, for example, financial compensation may be available through civil litigation against the at-fault driver and/or his or her insurance company.

Negligent car drivers can be held liable for the damages they cause. Examples of negligent driving include exceeding the speed limit, driving drunk, running through a red light or stop sign, making an unsafe lane change, or driving the wrong way. Negligent drivers, however, are not the only potentially liable parties. Some spinal cord injury accidents involve a dangerous roadway or defective auto part. In such cases, the negligent governing body in charge of the roadway or the manufacturer of the defective auto part may be held responsible for the accident.

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NJ Car Accident Lawyers Helping Victims Obtain Justice

It is important that individuals who have suffered a spinal cord injury are offered fair compensation for their significant losses. It is common in these types of accidents for an insurance company to offer an inadequate settlement that does not fully cover the losses suffered by the victim. A skilled spinal cord injury attorney will work with investigators and medical professionals to determine the severity of the injury and how much compensation should be available for the victim. If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury such as spinal cord damage as the result of a car crash, please contact the experienced NJ car accident lawyers at Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C. at (609) 240-0040 today for a free and comprehensive consultation and case assessment.

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Additional Information

• Spinal Cord Injuries – MedlinePlus
• Spinal Cord Injury Information Page – NIH