San Antonio Spine Injury Lawyer
Of the many types of injuries that accident victims can sustain, spine injuries are some of the most serious. Unfortunately, these kinds of injuries are not only painful, but also tend to be particularly debilitating, leaving victims to summer from limited mobility and chronic pain, often for years to come. Often, the only way that these individuals can pay for the medical care they need and cover their day-to-day expenses is to seek compensation from the at-fault party who caused their injury in the first place. Our San Antonio spine injury lawyer can help you today.
Types of Spine Injuries
While the spine acts as the body’s central support structure, keeping us upright and connecting the different parts of our skeleton to each other, it is not invulnerable. Made up of a chain of 26 bones, as well as a number of elastic ligaments, and spinal discs, the spine is relatively flexible. It is not, however, designed to absorb jarring impacts, which is why accident victims so often suffer from spine injuries. Trauma-related spine conditions can include everything from fractures and sprains to dislocations of the bones in the spinal column.
Common Causes of Spine Injuries
Most trauma-related spine injuries occur in one of a few different kinds of accidents, including:
- Car crashes;
- Falls;
- Diving accidents;
- Trampoline accidents;
- Violent assaults; and
- Accidents at birth.
The cervical vertebrae, which make up the neck, are especially prone to injury. Common injuries in this area include whiplash, in which the ligaments and muscles in the neck are stretched as a result of the head being forced to whip backwards and forwards. Around 20 percent of spine injuries affect the thoracic region, which is located in the middle of the back and connects to the chest and ribcage, while the remainder afflict the lumbar vertebrae (lower back) and typically take the form of pulled muscles. Other symptoms of this kind of spinal trauma include:
- Muscle weakness;
- Loss of sensation;
- Respiratory problems;
- Inability to move the limbs;
- Pain;
- Loss of bowel or bladder control; and
- Paralysis.
When it comes to spine injuries, diagnosis and treatment is critical, so as soon as a person recognizes these symptoms following an accident, he or she should seek medical assistance immediately.
Diagnosing and Treating Spine Injuries
Besides the characteristic pattern of symptoms, a spine injury can also be diagnosed by a physical examination and a number of imaging tests, such as:
- X-rays, which produce images of bones;
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, which use magnets and radio frequencies to produce detailed images of the structures and organs in the body; and
- Computed tomography (CT) scan, which use x-rays and computer technology to produce cross-sectional images of the bones, muscles, and organs.
Once a spine injury is diagnosed, a course of treatment will be ordered. This could include everything from the use of halos and braces to surgical intervention, all of which can prove expensive for the accident victim.
Contact an Experienced San Antonio Spine Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one sustained a spine injury in an accident, you could be entitled to compensation. Call 210-529-9999 and speak with the dedicated San Antonio spine injury legal team at the Law Office of Israel Garcia today to learn more.
