The publication LA Curbed has dubbed Los Angeles as the worst city for pedestrians, and for a reason. Given its culture of excessive car use, pedestrians and drivers in Los Angeles are no stranger to the traffic fatalities that occur in the metropolis. It’s gotten even worse throughout the years. Many suspect that the anxiety and frustration born out of the COVID-19 pandemic has manifested itself on the road today, with instances of road rage becoming more prevalent in Los Angeles. If we fail to quell our anger while driving, this might escalate into an accident that could cause injuries of different kinds. One of the most alarming of them all? Spinal Cord Injury (SCI).
The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) states that car crashes are the number one cause of SCI, meaning that Angelenos are extremely vulnerable to falling victim to this injury considering the city’s traffic fatalities. If you have SCI, you may be entitled to some form of compensation. But in order to obtain it, you will need the help of a spine injury lawyer at Omega Law Group.
THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF SPINAL CORD INJURY (SCI)
There are 17,810 new cases of SCI per year in the United States, with the NSCISC reporting that there are a total of 294,000 people afflicted with this specific injury nationwide. The Shepherd Center shares that there are two types of SCIs: Complete Spinal Cord Injury (complete damage to the spine) and Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury (partial damage to the spine), but it could also be further divided into four levels:
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Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: The most severe injury; this injury has an effect on the head and neck region area
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Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury: A mildly severe injury; this injury has an effect on your chest, mid-back, and abdominal area
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Lumbar Spinal Cord Injury: A moderately severe injury; this injury has an effect on your hips and legs. You may need the assistance of a wheelchair or braces to get around.
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Sacral Spinal Cord Injury: The least severe injury; affects the lower region of your body. You may not need any assistance to walk around.
SPINAL CORD INJURY (SCI) TREATMENT
There are currently no known methods to reverse the damage done to the spine, but there are different ways you can minimize further damage to the spinal cord. According to The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), you would need to acquire medical attention as soon as possible. Treatment starts at the site where the injury occurred. There, the emergency personnel would then dress you with a neck collar and place you in a carrying board to immobilize the spine and transport you to the emergency room. In the ER, the patient must carry on with their ability to breathe. Further action must be taken to make sure the neck and spinal cord remains immobilized so as to not inflict any further damage to it. For optimal recovery, the NICHD said the doctors may do the following:
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Surgery: Surgeons may have to put you under the knife to perform a surgery called decompression laminectomy in which they would extract any fluid or tissue pressing onto the spinal cord. They could also order surgery to put spinal braces or remove anything impeding the spine from transmitting nerve signals to your brain.
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Traction: This is a stabilizing technique meant to align your spine the way it’s meant to.
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Medrol: This is a steroid medication meant to be taken within 8 hours of acquiring injury. It minimizes the damage done to nerve cells and decreases injury inflammation.
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Experimental Treatment: Since there is still no proper cure for SCI, experimental treatment may be offered to those with spine injury.
OTHER INJURIES YOU MAY ACQUIRE
Aside from SCI, you may acquire other types of personal injury. If you got into an accident and were fortunate enough to not be afflicted with SCI, don’t be complacent just yet. You still need to consult with a doctor to determine whether you have the following:
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Soft Tissue Injury
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Scrapes and Cut
To obtain proper compensation, make sure you reach out to a spine injury attorney at Omega Law Group, home to the best spinal cord injury attorneys in Los Angeles.
ABOUT OMEGA LAW GROUP
Our awards and excellent testimonials are a result of our ability to empathize and attend to the needs of our clients. Here at Omega Law Group, you will come first. If you or a loved one is afflicted with an accident, reach out to our team. Visit our Contact Us page or call us at 866-942-3881.