Spinal cord injuries are common after a car or truck accident, and the effects can be extremely damaging.
It is difficult to put an exact time on how long it takes to treat a spinal cord injury because each situation is different and there are various factors involved.
The first 48 hours are critical
The unfortunate reality is that some spinal cord injuries can cause you long-term or even lifetime effects. Receiving treatment within the first 48 hours after your injury has a significant impact on your overall prognosis.
Some other factors that affect your ultimate prognosis include where the injury occurred and the severity of your initial nerve damage. A spinal cord injury is likely to be worse if it occurs in your mid-back and the initial nerve damage is serious.
You will generally regain most of your nerve function in the first six months after your injury. However, sometimes recovery may come months or years later, although it is not typical.
Because treating a spinal cord injury quickly is so important, you should seek medical attention immediately after a car accident.
The negative impact of a spinal cord injury
Treating a spinal cord injury can be expensive and it can take a long time to recover. High medical expenses, time off work and pain and suffering that reduce your quality of life are some possible consequences of a spinal cord injury.
When your spinal cord injury is the result of a car accident caused by a negligent Louisiana driver, you could potentially recover compensation for your damages.
This requires filing a personal injury action and establishing negligence. You must prove the elements of negligence, which mean showing the other driver failed in their duty to drive safely and that failure caused your accident and damages.
Louisiana negligence law
Louisiana follows a comparative fault standard. This means your compensation is reduced by the percentage a court finds that you were at fault for the accident.
Recovering from a car accident takes time, and you should not have to worry about paying the bills while you heal. Having an attorney on your side after a car accident is important.