Many types of accidents can lead to a spinal cord injury. No matter what the cause, the person is likely going to face significant life impacts. The severity of those impacts depends in part on the type of injury the person suffers.
Spinal cord injuries are divided into two types – complete and incomplete. A complete injury isn’t as likely to heal in the same manner as an incomplete one. The primary difference between these two is that the person has sensation or the ability to move the body below the area that’s damaged if the injury is incomplete. There isn’t any movement or sensation below the area if it’s a complete injury.
Another factor that impacts the recovery and effects of the injury is where it is located. Injuries that are higher on the spinal cord will cause more life changes than lower ones. This is partially because all of the areas lower than the injury are affected by it.
People who have spinal cord injuries will likely require extensive rehabilitation. This can be grueling, exhausting and can take up a lot of time. Spinal cord injury victims can’t usually skip any of their therapies because it will directly impact their recovery. Because of the time that spinal cord rehab can take, as well as the impacts of the injury, they could face months or years of ongoing treatment.
Victims of incidents that cause spinal cord injuries can seek compensation from the liable party. Ensuring that you keep documentation about the impacts of the injury on your life can bolster these cases. The damages you can claim vary considerably, but many people can seek repayment of medical bills and missed wages. Other claims might also be possible, like seeking financial compensation for pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.