Recently, Attorney Mike White of Floyd Hunter Injury Law appeared on WAKA CBS 8 and WBMM CW 22 with host Olivia Deas. He discussed the role car accidents play in spinal cord injuries in honor of National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month.
Spinal cord injuries are caused by a sudden blow or cut to the spine, which severely damages the spinal cord, resulting in a communication block between the spinal cord and the brain. These injuries can cause paralysis of the limbs, leaving victims with life-altering injuries.
Tetraplegics suffer from paralysis of all four limbs, while paraplegics suffer from paralysis of the legs and lower body. Victims may suffer from complete or incomplete paraplegia and tetraplegia depending on the location of the injury.
These injuries significantly change a victim’s way of life, and can cause severe emotional distress, including depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Unfortunately, spinal cord injuries are common as more than 12,000 spinal cord injuries occur each year.
Car Accidents Cause Nearly Half of all Spinal Cord Injuries
Car accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, as nearly 50% of all new spinal cord injuries each year are attributed to motor vehicle accidents.
Mike stated that the major causes of car accidents that lead to spinal cord injuries are drunk driving and distracted driving.
In fact, alcohol reportedly plays a factor in nearly 25% of all spinal cord injuries. As drunk driving accidents are highly prevalent, causing nearly 800 people to be injured every day, it’s highly likely many of those accidents could result in spinal cord injuries.
Distracted driving is becoming even more common as more and more drivers are using their smartphones while behind the wheel. But checking emails, scrolling through Instagram and sending a text while driving is very dangerous.
You don’t want a second of distraction to cause heartbreak for an innocent individual and his or her family who sustains a spinal cord injury from a car crash.
What Should You Do to Prevent Spinal Cord Injuries from Car Accidents?
As a driver, you should understand the risks of sustaining spinal cord injuries in car accidents and drive responsibly to prevent accidents from occurring. Check out these important, potentially life-saving tips:
- Always wear a seatbelt
- Have proper child safety and booster seats installed for children
- Never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Pay attention to the roads and avoid distractions
What to Do if You Sustain a Spinal Cord Injury from a Car Accident
If you become paralyzed due to a car accident, your entire life has changed. Depending on the severity of the injury, you may have a complete or incomplete injury.
Common signs of a spinal cord injury include:
- Loss of movement
- Loss of sensation
- A loss of bowel/bladder control
- Exaggerated reflex activities or spasms
- Pain or intense stinging sensation
- Difficulty breathing, coughing or clearing of lungs
If you experience these symptoms, you should immediately go to the doctor or accept medical attention at the scene of the accident.
As spinal cord injuries require expensive medical treatment and long-term care, you may want to seek the advice of an experienced spinal cord injury lawyer to ensure you are compensated for your medical bills and pain and suffering, and hold the negligent driver responsible.
If you or a loved one suffers a spinal cord injury in any type of accident, call the attorneys at Floyd Hunter Injury Law for a free legal consultation at 334-452-4000. When you call one of our experienced Alabama Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers, we will speak with you for FREE and determine the best course of action.
There is never an attorney’s fee due upfront, and we don’t get paid until you do. It’s that simple.
Call Floyd Hunter Injury Law, because the right lawyers make a real difference.
