Perhaps one of the most common injuries from accidents are injuries to the spine. These injuries commonly arise from the forces placed upon the body in a motor vehicle accident or by the blunt trauma caused by a fall on a sidewalk or at a construction site.
Injuries to the spinal column can range from simple temporary “whiplash” to devastating and life-changing limitations. Even a spine injury that initially appears to be relatively minor can often have long-term and permanent effects.
Understanding The Spine and Spine Injuries
What we commonly think of as the “spine” actually includes several distinct regions. From top to bottom, the spine includes the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine. Each area of the spine supports different parts of the body and provides different functions, although the primary purpose of the spine is to protect the “spinal cord,” a bundle of nerves that passes from the base of your skull to your upper and lower extremities.
Injuries to the spinal cord itself can result in significant nerve damage, paralysis, and even death.
Each area of the spine contains vertebrae, which protect the spinal cord and promote movement of the spine. The protective “cushions” between the vertebrae are discs. Injuries to the spine can result in herniated or bulging discs, which may restrict movement, cause numbness and a “pins and needles” sensation, and can be very painful, particularly if a bulging disc is impinging on the spinal cord.
Injuries to the spine are very complicated, and can affect people very differently, depending on their age, body type, and prior history, among other factors.
What To Do If You Think You Have a Spine Injury
Because spinal injuries are very complicated, it is very important to promptly consult medical providers if you think you have sustained an injury involving your spine.
Because these injuries have potential long-term implications, it is also important to consult an attorney if you’ve incurred a spine injury as the result of an accident that may have been caused by the negligence of someone else.
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal injury in an accident that occurred in Albany, Johnstown, Saugerties, Amsterdam, Catskill, Gloversville, Hudson or elsewhere in Upstate NY, consult the personal injury attorneys at Maynard, O’Connor, Smith & Catalinotto.
Our legal team has decades of experience and has obtained impressive case results for past clients in a variety of personal injury practice areas. We can take steps on your behalf to ensure that your current and future needs are fully protected.
Call us today at (800) 721-3553 to discuss your case or contact us online to set up a free case review with a member of our legal team.
