Riding a motorcycle offers several benefits, like lower fuel expenses, lower cost of purchase, and most importantly, motorcyclists can quickly get through traffic and save time. With all these benefits, riding a motorcycle also has risks for accidents. Motorcyclists are highly prone to accidents due to inefficient safety measures.
If a person gets into an accident while riding a motorcycle, they may sustain severe injuries like brain trauma, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and internal organ damage. If you ever get injured from a motorcycle accident, and you believe that the accident was due to somebody else’s carelessness, you can hold them accountable for your medical bills, lost wages, vehicle damage, future medical expenses, and emotional suffering. An Atlanta personal injury lawyer can help you file a lawsuit and get you a fair settlement for your damages and injuries.
What is a spinal cord injury?
The spinal cord is one of the most sensitive organs of the human body. It is responsible for transmitting sensory and motor information from the brain to the body and vice versa. Any damage to the spinal cord can result in loss of sensory or motor functions of the body.
Depending upon the location of damage and the intensity of the accident, the severity of the injuries can be determined. Two types of spinal cord injuries may occur.
- Complete spinal cord injury: Occurs when the spinal cord is completely damaged, and the victim loses all their motor and sensory inputs and outs. Such injuries usually result in paralysis.
- Incomplete spinal cord injury: Occurs when a specific spinal cord segment gets damaged, and the remaining segments remain functional. Such injuries result in partial loss of motor and sensory functions.
Types of spinal cord injuries.
A sudden blow to the spinal cord can lead to the following injuries:
- Disc herniations.
A sudden blow or trauma to the spinal cord can force the intervertebral disc( this disc provides a cushioning effect between the adjacent vertebrae) to bulge out and irritate the nerve roots exiting the spinal cord. It leads to a tingling sensation, muscle weakness, and pain.
- Nerve compression.
Several nerve roots exit the spinal cord and supply different body regions. Damage to the vertebrae or intervertebral discs may lead to compression of the nearby nerves and loss of function.
- Fracture of vertebrae.
In an intense motorcycle accident, the victim may severely damage their bones, forming vertebral columns. Spinal fractures are a severe issue if not treated in time. These may lead to spinal cord injury, nerve damage, or paralysis.
Any form of spinal injury should be treated immediately as the spinal cord is highly sensitive, and any delay can lead to permanent damage or paralysis.
