Injuries sustained in a Fort Smith car accident can affect the spine or neck, resulting in crippling injuries.
Living with spinal cord injuries and calculating ongoing medical needs can seem overwhelming, but you do not have to go through recovery on your own.
The spine or backbone is a linked column of thirty-three individual bones, medically divided into five regions.
Only the top 24 bones, beginning in the neck, are movable. These are: Cervical: C1-C8 at the top of the spine, in the neck Thoracic: T1-T12 in the mid back Lumbar: L1-L5 in the low back
In the bottom two regions of the spine, the bones are fused. These are: Sacrum: A large, triangular bone located between the hip bones below the lumbar spine Coccyx: A small triangular bone at the base of the spine, also known as the tailbone
The cervical nerves are contained in vertebrae C1-C8 at the top of the spine. Injuries to these vertebrae are classified as high (C1-C4) and low (C5-C8).
Injuries to the C1-C4 vertebrae are the most severe, leading to paralysis in the arms, hands, trunk and legs.
Injuries to the C5-C8 vertebrae affect control of arms and hands. A person with this injury may be able to breathe and speak on their own.
The average annual expense for high tetraplegia is over $200,000.
Injuries to this region affect affect muscles in the middle of the back and some lower back function.
T1-T5 injuries affect muscles in the middle of the back, the abdominal area, and the upper neck. This can lead to paraplegia.
T6-T12 injuries result in paraplegia of the lower body. The upper body mostly functions normally. Bladder and bowel control may be affected.
Injuries in the L1-L5 area affect the lower limbs, and a person can have trouble controlling their bladder or bowel movements.
Your spinal cord injury lawyer may hire life care planners to help determine what the future may look like.
You may need assistive devices or remodeling of your home’s interior, or care in an institution if at-home care is not feasible.
A financial planner can outline your lost income and benefits. These calculations help your attorney seek compensation.
Your Fort Smith auto accident attorney is going to work hard to get you the compensation to which you are entitled and ensure the insurance company won’t be able to take advantage of you.