Venice Spine Injury Attorney
The backbone, or spine, is made up of 26 bones, or vertebrae, which protect the spinal cord, while also enabling us to stand and bend. The spine, is unfortunately, not immune to injury and could suffer from a number of different problems. Spine injuries are some of the most common injuries sustained by accident victims, primarily affecting those who suffer intense blunt force impacts and also tend to be both painful and debilitating. If you are suffering with your own back injury and have questions about your rights to compensation after an accident, it is important to contact an experienced Venice spine injury attorney who can advise you.
WHIPLASH INJURIES
The spine is made up of a long chain of bones, muscles, and ligaments that extend from the base of the skull to the tailbone. The part of the spine in the neck region, which supports the head and protects the nerves in the spinal cord, is known as the cervical spine and is particularly prone to injury in accidents that involve blunt force impact. Many car accident victims, for instance, suffer from whiplash, or the straining and inflammation of the muscles and ligaments in the neck. Symptoms of whiplash include everything from headaches and neck pain to tingling in the arms and ringing in the ears. Whiplash is most successfully treated when it is diagnosed early and usually requires rest, strength training, and physical therapy and in severe cases, spinal injections.
SPINAL FRACTURES
Besides whiplash, spinal fractures are some of the most commonly reported back-related injuries amongst accident victims. Most occur in the thoracic (mid back) and lumbar (lower back) spine, or where the two areas connect and fall under three main categories:
- Flexion fractures, which primarily occur when the front of a vertebra is broken and collapses and can typically be linked to car accidents and sports injuries;
- Extension fractures, in which the vertebrae are literally pulled apart, often because the upper body is thrown forward, while the pelvis, or lower body remains stabilized; and
- Rotation fractures, in which a vertebra is displaced and are often the result of extreme sideways bending.
All three of these types of spinal fractures cause moderate to severe pain and can often only be resolved with bracing in less serious cases and surgical treatment with the most severe fractures.
SPINAL CORD INJURIES
Another common type of spine injury occurs when there is damage to the spinal cord, or the bundle of nerves protected by the vertebrae. Damage to any part of the spinal cord, which typically occurs through compression and penetrating injuries from vertebrae fractures, can cause permanent changes in strength, sensation, and bodily functions below the site of the injury. These types of injuries are classified as being either:
- Complete, which involve the complete loss of feeling and ability to control movement below the injury; or
- Incomplete, in which a person retains some sensory and motor function below the injured area.
Unfortunately, the effects of spinal cord injuries are often permanent, even with extensive treatment.
CONSULT WITH AN EXPERIENCED VENICE SPINE INJURY ATTORNEY
Please call 1-800-800-1414 to set up a free consultation with one of the dedicated Venice spine injury attorneys at Hale Law who can help explain your recovery options.