Motor vehicle crashes are a primary cause of spinal cord injuries in people who are under 65 years old. This shocking fact highlights the importance of safe driving. Drivers can’t let anything distract them or reduce their ability to operate their vehicle in the appropriate manner.
While motor vehicle crashes can cause many injuries, spinal cord injuries are considered catastrophic. These injuries can impact the victim for the remainder of their life.
How severe is this impact for the person who was injured?
There are a few factors that influence the severity of the spinal cord injury’s impacts on a person’s life. The location is important because the area below the injury is where the victim will have effects. This means that higher injuries usually produce more severe symptoms.
The type of injury is also important. Complete spinal cord injuries mean that the nerve pathways are fully severed, which leaves no sensation or ability below the level of the injury. In an incomplete injury, there are still nerve pathways intact, which means the person will have at least some feeling or ability below the injury. Typically, incomplete injuries have a better chance of healing than complete injuries.
Anyone who suffered a spinal cord injury due to another driver’s negligence should ensure they get the medical care they need. This care is often intensive, long-term and costly, which can place a financial burden on the victim. It’s possible to seek compensation for the damages that you’re dealing with if you’re in that position. Do this swiftly because there are time limits built into Oklahoma law that you must comply with.