Spine Injury from Car Accident: What You Need to Know

Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry L. Cochran

If you’ve suffered a spine injury from a car accident, you have legal options. Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. has decades of experience representing Michigan families that are dealing with catastrophic injuries. We know what it takes to hold negligent drivers accountable and secure the compensation you need if you’ve gotten a spinal cord injury in a car accident.

Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries From Car Accidents

Spine injuries are caused by motor vehicle accidents more than anything else. In research from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, 40% of all new spinal cord injuries each year come from vehicle accidents. They happen when the spine absorbs sudden force during a collision.

Your spinal cord carries signals between your brain and the rest of your body, and damage interrupts that process, which means loss of movement, feeling, or bodily functions below the injury site. Some people regain partial function through surgery and therapy, but others are permanently paralyzed.

Michigan’s no-fault insurance system covers your medical bills after a car accident, but it doesn’t always cover everything. If another driver caused your crash, you might be able to get additional compensation through Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C.

Symptoms and Long-Term Effects of Spinal Cord Injuries

You might not realize how serious your back injury after a car accident really is at first because adrenaline keeps you from feeling pain. That means you might not notice anything until hours or even days after the accident. Watch for numbness, tingling, weakness in your arms or legs, trouble walking, or loss of bladder control.

Long-term effects depend on how severe the injury is and where it’s located. Injuries to the cervical spine often cause quadriplegia, meaning all four limbs have been affected. Thoracic or lumbar injuries can cause paraplegia, which affects the lower limbs. In either case, daily tasks like bathing, getting dressed, and working become impossible without assistance.

Common Causes and Types of Spine Injuries in Motor Vehicle Accidents

While a lot of spine injuries are caused by motor vehicle accidents, the exact cause can differ. Rear-end collisions often cause whiplash and cervical strain, and high-speed crashes cause compression fractures where vertebrae shatter under pressure.

At Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C., we see a lot of the following:

• Herniated discs: The cushioning between vertebrae ruptures, putting pressure on the nerves, which causes radiating pain.
• Compression fractures: Vertebrae collapse under impact, and surgery is often needed to stabilize the spine.
• Spinal cord contusions: Bruising of the spinal cord itself, which may cause temporary or permanent nerve damage.

You don’t need a high-speed crash to get a spinal injury. We’ve seen clients whose lives were upended by vehicle accidents at 25 mph.

Medical and Legal Considerations After a Spine Injury

The first thing you need to do after a spinal cord injury in a car accident is get to a trauma center that’s equipped to handle spinal injuries so they can stabilize your spine, run imaging tests, and see if you need surgery.

Document everything: Keep copies of medical records, bills, prescription receipts, and correspondence with your insurance company. Take pictures of your injuries and the accident scene, if you can.

Filing a Claim for a Spine Injury After a Car Accident

Michigan’s no-fault system covers your medical expenses and wage loss through your own auto insurance. But if the other driver was at fault, you can file a third-party claim for non-economic damages like pain and suffering.

Insurance adjusters will look for any reason to deny or reduce your payout. You need an attorney for medical issues who understands spinal cord injuries and can fight against insurance companies.

You’ve got three years in Michigan from the accident date to file a lawsuit for a back injury after a car accident. The sooner you contact Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C., the stronger your case will be.

How a Detroit Auto Accident Attorney Can Help

An experienced Detroit auto accident attorney like Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. investigates every angle of your case. We work with accident reconstruction experts, medical specialists, and financial analysts to prove what happened and calculate your true losses.

We also prepare for the trial, if needed. Most cases settle out of court, but insurers take you more seriously when they know you’re willing to fight.

Finding the Right Attorney for Medical Issues

Not every lawyer has the resources to handle a complex spine injury from a car accident case. You need a firm that understands both the medical and legal sides of spinal cord trauma.

Don’t be afraid to ask about their track record. Find a good attorney who’ll fight for maximum compensation. Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. treats every client like family, and we’re available 24/7.

Back Injury Compensation and Legal Options

Compensation for a back injury after a car accident can include medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, future earnings, home modifications, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.

An experienced car accident lawyer in Michigan from Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. will minimize your fault percentage and maximize your recovery.

According to the University of Alabama’s Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems, the lifetime costs for spinal cord injuries can be substantial, so proper legal representation is critical.

Get the Legal Help You Deserve

Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. has spent decades fighting for Michigan families dealing with catastrophic injuries. Contact us today for a free consultation. We work on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we win your case. Call us now at 1-866-MICH-LAW or reach out online to schedule your free case eval.

Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.