Spine Injuries And Car Accidents
Injuries to the spine can be some of the most serious. The spine is laced with nerves that connect to every part of your body. Injuries there can be anything from spinal cord compressions to paralysis. Learn more below.
Seek Medical Care at Once
If you feel pain in your back or neck area after an accident, go to the emergency room in an ambulance immediately. You should be strapped to the gurney securely so that you won't be able to move and cause more damage. At the hospital, imaging is performed to determine the extent of your injuries.
Take Things Slowly
No matter how quickly you want to get the accident case resolved, take things slowly. If the other driver caused the accident, their insurer may be eager to settle the case. Unfortunately, you can settle too quickly if you are not careful.
Many spinal injuries are long-term injuries and will require ongoing medical care. You may not realize until several months later how the injury will impact your life. Settling too soon could leave you with only a fraction of what you deserve.
Speak to a Personal Injury Lawyer
Rather than spend time dealing with the other driver's insurer, get a lawyer to help you deal with things. They can serve as a go-between for you and the insurer responsible for paying for your damages. Your lawyer will investigate the accident and instruct you to continue with your medical treatment. All your medical bills will be paid by the other insurer.
You may reach a point known as maximum medical improvement (MMI). This term means that your injury has reached a plateau in healing. It does not mean that you won't need more medical treatment, nor does it mean that you won't continue to get better. It's a legal way of marking a moment in time when experts can predict how much more medical treatment you may need.
MMI means that your lawyer will consult with medical experts to determine what else should be done for your injury. Your continued treatment and comfort at home are taken into consideration. If you are no longer able to work at your job, that is also considered. All of these damages add up and the sum signifies what you are owed by the insurer.
Your lawyer will negotiate with the other side to get you what you deserve for your spinal cord injury. If it's not possible to agree on a settlement, it may go to court. To learn more about what to expect with your journey to compensation, speak to a car wreck lawyer.
