Do All Spinal Injuries from Crashes Cause Paralysis?
A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the tight bundle of cells and nerves that sends and receives signals from the brain to and from the rest of the body. The spinal cord extends from the lower part of the brain down through the lower back. Spinal cord injuries can be caused by direct injury to the spinal cord itself or from damage to the tissue and bones (vertebrae) that surround the spinal cord. This damage can result in temporary or permanent changes in sensation, movement, strength, and body functions below the site of injury.
The expected loss of motor function and degree of paralysis one can expect from a spinal cord injury hinges on where along the spinal cord the injury occurred and the severity of the injury. Not all spinal cord injuries will lead to paralysis, however, and it is frequent for victims of these injuries to have temporary paralysis in the immediate aftermath of their injury, yet as the injury heals and time progresses, the patient can recover, and movement can be regained in the previously paralyzed regions of the victim’s body.
A spinal cord injury can damage a few, many, or almost all of the nerve fibers that cross the site of injury. A variety of cells located in and around the injury site may also die. Some injuries having little or no nerve cell death may allow an almost complete recovery. So, it is not the case that every single spinal cord injury will cause paralysis in the victim – in fact, it is frequent for patients to either escape paralysis entirely or recover from a condition of temporary paralysis induced by the injury.
These injuries are still severe, life-changing, and costly, as they require extensive treatment for a person to make a recovery.
A Beverly Hills Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, whether paralyzed or not, you have a legal right to compensation against the party responsible for causing your injury. At Jalilvand Law, we represent victims of catastrophic injuries, and our Beverly Hills spinal cord injury attorneys can evaluate your rights. Contact us online or by calling 310.478.5800 today.
