Traumatic spinal injuries that result from automobile and truck accidents may be especially insidious for several reasons. First, spinal injuries may range from whiplash to paralysis – either temporary or permanent – and anywhere in between. Let us take this blog to focus on several types of spinal injuries.
Whiplash or what we call soft tissue injury is the most common form of spinal injury – and often the most misunderstood. While the media tends to refer to it derisively as a ‘fake injury’ – it is very real indeed. When a person is rear ended in their vehicle the body may accelerate forward straining neck and even back ligaments before the head snaps forward. At the same time the vehicle is decelerating at a rapid rate and neck, back and head muscles are strained at best. Depending on the severity of the car accident, recovery can take days to weeks and in extreme cases – even months.
There are a number of other factors that come into play in a discussion of spinal cord injuries. For instance, the weight, mass and speed of the vehicles as well as their angle of impact have a significant effect on the final type of spinal injury a victim may experience. Extensive research shows that the physics and mechanics of an accident are the prime cause of varying types of spinal injuries – and automobile manufacturers are utilizing this data to redouble their engineering efforts to minimize a victim’s chance of suffering long term and debilitating spinal problems.
In the meantime – always wear your seatbelt and drive defensively.
Greg Baumgartner is a Houston personal injury lawyer who helps injury victims seek civil justice.
