Few injuries are as serious as damage to the spinal cord. In circumstances where a motorcyclist is thrown from their bike after being struck by another vehicle, the force of the impact can cause serious harm to the spine and may result in paralysis. These injuries often change the course of a person’s entire life, affecting their ability to work, move independently, and carry out everyday activities that most people take for granted.
If you suffered a spinal cord injury in a motorcycle accident caused by someone else in Tennessee, you may have the right to pursue significant compensation. Read on to learn about how these injuries happen and what legal options you might have going forward.
How Motorcycle Accidents Cause Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that runs through the vertebral column and serves as the body’s main communication pathway between the brain and the rest of the body. When the spine is damaged in a motorcycle accident, those signals can be completely disrupted.
Spinal cord injuries in motorcycle crashes can occur in several ways, including:
- A direct blow to the back or neck during the collision
- Being thrown from the motorcycle and landing on a hard surface
- The motorcycle rolling over the rider’s body
- Being crushed between the motorcycle and another vehicle
The location of the injury along the spine determines how severe the effects will be. Damage higher up on the spinal cord, such as in the cervical region, can result in quadriplegia. Injuries to the lower portion of the spine may lead to paraplegia, which affects the legs and lower body.
What Is the Long-Term Impact of a Spinal Cord Injury?
Severe spinal cord injuries rarely heal completely, causing many victims to face a lifetime of medical care and adaptive equipment. The costs associated with these injuries are staggering and can include:
- Emergency surgery
- Extended hospital stays
- Ongoing physical and occupational therapy
- Wheelchair and mobility equipment
- Home modifications
- In-home care assistance
Beyond the financial burden, the personal toll is also immense. Many spinal cord injury victims experience a dramatic reduction in their quality of life as well as permanent alterations to their relationships and daily routines. Victims may be entitled to both economic and non-economic damages in these circumstances.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Tennessee Motorcycle Accident Lawyer at Woodard Injury Law
A spinal cord injury from a motorcycle accident can reshape every aspect of your life. If another driver’s actions caused the crash, you deserve compensation that reflects the true scope of what you have lost and what you will need going forward.
Woodard Injury Law is here to help you maximize what you recover. Contact our personal injury lawyers for a free consultation today at (615) 314-4626 or by reaching out online. We’ve won millions of dollars for our clients since our founding and work on contingency, which means you only pay us for our work if we win compensation for you.