Illinois accident lawyers see physical injuries all the time. Injuries to the neck and back can be extremely serious. Spinal trauma is often a result of neck and back injuries and can result in with loss of function or feeling in other parts of the body as well. Further, the location and severity of the injury will affect how long-lasting and severe you can expect your symptoms to be. If your neck and/or back injury has affected your life or caused you pain and suffering, you may be able to pursue a cash settlement. Contact the Illinois accident lawyers at Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys for more information about how these kinds of cases normally work.
Severity of Spinal Cord Injuries
Neck and back injuries can lead to damage to the spinal cord. There are two main classifications for spinal injuries. The medical terms for them are either ‘complete’ or ‘incomplete’.
Complete spinal injuries mean that the spinal cord is completely severed. This causes a long-lasting loss of bodily function in bodily areas below the injury. Some patients can regain some of their function through dedication to physical therapy, but severe symptoms are almost a guarantee.
Incomplete spinal injuries mean that the spinal cord is damaged but not completely severed. There will likely still be some loss of function, but it will depend on the severity of the incomplete injury. The majority of spinal cord injuries are incomplete.
Types of Injuries to the Neck and Back
Beyond complete and incomplete injuries, there are some other main categories of neck and spinal injury that doctors may be on the lookout for after and accident:
- Whiplash – An injury that affects the soft tissues of the neck and back. It is usually the result of the rapid back and forth motion of the head that most victims of car accidents experience.
- Herniated Disc – The discs of the spine are made up of a soft, jelly substance within a tougher, fibrous exterior. If that soft gel leaks or bulges through the exterior, contact with the surrounding nerves can result in pain, weakness, and numbness in the legs, arms, and neck.
- Cervical Dislocation – The result of one of the vertebrae of the neck moving out of its intended place. This creates an instability within the spine that results in pain. A dislocation can be the result of a fracture, and can damage the spinal cord itself.
- Facet Injuries – Facet joints allow the spine to twist and turn while keeping the range of motion within normal human standards. An injury to these joints can force the back out of alignment and affect the nerves and muscles that surround it. This can lead to pain, muscles spasms, and joint freezing.
- Brown-Sequard syndrome – This is an injury to one side of the spinal cord or the other. The uneven damage can cause symptoms to be different on different sides of the body. As a result, these types of injuries can come in wildly different levels of severity.
- Tetraplegia – Also referred to as quadriplegia. The paralysis occurs in different body parts below the injury, and can lead to problems with functions as crucial as bladder and bowel control, and even the ability to breathe.
Symptoms of Neck and Spinal Injuries
If you have been experiencing any of the following after an accident, it may be time to contact your doctor and Illinois accident lawyers.
- Paralysis
- Loss of sensation
- Limb weakness
- Shooting pain
- Joint freezing
- Trouble breathing
- Headaches
- Changes in personality or mood
- Loss of sexual appetite or function
- Bladder control problems
- Pneumonia
- Nerve and/or muscle pain
How to Diagnose Neck and Back Injuries
Doctors can evaluate your symptoms, movement, and blood to determine if your spine has suffered injury. Your doctor may also wish to use an MRI or other medical imaging device to get a better look at the damaged areas.
A thorough diagnosis is an important part to establishing your case. The type and severity of your injury will determine the type of care you need, and that can have a big effect on your settlement.
Top Illinois Accident Lawyers
In a wreck? Need a check? The hardest working Illinois accident lawyers are confident in their ability to win your case. That’s why we at Lerner and Rowe offer free consultations, so we don’t charge you a fee until after we win your case.
We are the Illinois accident lawyers that bring experience, skill, and passion to your case. Call Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys at 844-977-1900. Our office hours are 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., but we are available 24/7 to take your call. You can also contact us online, where we offer a convenient LiveChat so you can get the answers you need right away. Reach out today so we can get started on your case.