The Path to Recovery After a Spinal Cord Injury Due to an Albuquerque Wreck

A spinal cord injury can be a life-altering event, especially when the cause of the injury is disputed. Spinal cord injuries in Albuquerque can involve complex legal and medical issues, so it’s essential to understand your rights if you’ve suffered such an injury. It’s also important to be aware of the common causes, how liability is determined, and the critical steps to take immediately after the incident.

What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?

A spinal cord injury occurs whenever the spinal cord is compromised in some way. The spinal cord’s primary function is to send messages to the brain, which then sends messages from the brain throughout the rest of the body. It assists in many different essential functions. If the spinal cord is damaged, it can result in partial or permanent paralysis, depending on the degree of damage to the cord itself. These injuries are often catastrophic.

There are primarily two different types of spinal cord injuries that can happen to a human being. While both can result in serious lifelong chronic pain and ongoing medical care, one is far worse than the other:

• Incomplete Injury: In an incomplete spinal cord injury, the cord has not been totally severed. The spinal cord can still send some messages to the brain. You may be suffering from partial paralysis, but healing may still be possible. The road to recovery will still be long and arduous.
• Complete Injury: In a complete spinal cord injury, the cord is totally severed. It will not heal, as a severed spinal cord is impossible to fix. You will have no feeling below the injured area of your spine. This is the worst-case scenario.

According to a 2024 report from the New Mexico Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), there were 1,167 serious injuries due to a vehicular accident in 2023 alone throughout New Mexico. It’s entirely possible that many of these injuries were spinal cord injuries, as they are not uncommon in serious car accidents. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, you may want to consider a local spinal cord specialist like Modern Pain & Spine or ALB Pain Management & Spine Care.

The Path to Recovery

It is important to consider that the path to recovery may not be the one you envision. According to the National Library of Medicine, anywhere from 20% to 75% of injured patients may be able to walk again within a year of their incomplete spinal cord injury. Recovery is a long, complex, and singular process for victims of spinal cord injuries.

Here are some of the potential steps in your recovery process:

• Inpatient Rehabilitation: Generally, a team of doctors and physical therapists will help you slowly regain function, if possible, and help you learn to adapt to simple tasks. This phase will involve discipline, education, and time management.
• Outpatient Rehabilitation: Eventually, you will return home and continue your rehab alone or with a caretaker. You may enroll in an outpatient program and learn to be somewhat self-sufficient. You will likely still require ongoing care.

FAQs

Q: How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Spinal Cord Injury?

A: How long it will take to recover from a spinal cord injury will vary from individual to individual. Spinal cord injuries are catastrophic injuries to deal with, and everyone who has one may have a different experience or severity of injury. Some people may eventually make a full recovery within a few years, while others may never gain full feeling in their legs or arms again. For many, they may start to see improvements within six months.

Q: How Much Are Spinal Cord Injuries Worth in a Legal Case?

A: Depending on the degree of pain and loss of movement, a spinal cord injury could be worth a very significant sum in a personal injury case in Albuquerque, NM. Generally, the more severe the injury is, the higher it may be worth in a settlement. You have to take into account your ongoing medical care, lifelong chronic pain, lost wages due to missing work, and other factors that may be unique to your case. A final settlement for a serious spinal cord injury could be considerable.

Q: What Is the Prognosis for a Spinal Cord Injury?

A: The prognosis for a spinal cord injury is always going to vary from person to person. Sometimes, the prognosis may be fairly positive if the cord is not too badly injured. If it is badly injured, the prognosis will probably be poor. Everyone deals with this kind of injury differently. It’s important to remember that a complete spinal cord injury has no cure or instant fix. You may not heal the way you want. Managing your expectations is important.

Q: How Close Is a Cure for a Spinal Cord Injury?

A: Unfortunately, despite decades of scientific research and advances, there remains no cure for a complete spinal cord injury. Once severed, the cord cannot be unsevered. Scientists are always trying to break new ground when it comes to curing physical ailments. Currently, they are focusing on managing the symptoms and ways to improve quality of life with rehabilitation and assistive devices.

Reach Out to an Injury Lawyer

The legal team at Berenson & Associates, PC, recognizes how serious such an injury can be, especially after also being in a car accident. Your path to recovery may not be easy. It is important to understand the gravity of the situation and recognize that healing may not come in the way you expect it to. If your injury was caused by someone’s negligent actions, a personal injury lawyer can help you seek damages.

At Berenson & Associates, PC, we can help you put together a case, gather evidence, and protect your interests throughout your case. Our legal team is dedicated to helping victims of negligence after accidents. Contact us to speak to a spinal cord injury attorney who can help you start your path to recovery.