If you get into a car accident and suffer a spinal cord injury, it could change the rest of your life. There is a chance, unfortunately, that the injury will never fully heal. This is one of the most serious injuries you can endure, and you need to be ready for what that means in your life.
Naturally, all spinal cord injuries are different. The level at which it occurs has a direct impact on the signs and symptoms you’ll experience. To help illustrate this, here are a few potential ramifications at various levels:
- Level: C2-C3: These injuries make it impossible to breathe, meaning that the person is 100 percent dependent on medical care in the event that they survive. However, most of these cases are fatal.
- Level: C4: These cases mean the person cannot use their arms or legs, and they suffer from quadriplegia. Breathing may not be impossible but can still be difficult, so ventilators are often used.
- Level: C7: These injuries can still result in general quadriplegia, but the person may be able to use their hands, wrists, elbows or shoulders to a certain degree. Some people are able to use a wheelchair, for instance.
- Level: T6-T12: These injuries mean a person cannot use their legs and has no control from the waist down. However, they tend to have excellent torso control and they can still use their arms.
These are just a few examples, but they help show you how different the results can be at different depending on the level of the injury. No matter what type of medical care you need after the car accident, make sure you explore your options for seeking compensation from any individuals and/or entities at fault.
