If you are injured in a car crash, the insurance company may try to settle as quickly as possible. They are not doing this out of kindness. They are doing it because they know that you may later notice something like a spinal injury, which will lead to considerable extra costs.
Spinal injuries are not always evident straight away
Many of the most severe injuries, such as those to your spine, can take a day or more to make themselves known. You may feel fine after a crash, aside from a few cuts and bruises, yet you may not be. Cuts and bruises heal, as do broken bones. Spinal damage may never fully recover.
The wrong move could worsen a spinal injury
If you have witnessed a severe accident, you may have noticed that the emergency services take great care in moving someone. They use spinal boards or a particular method of lifting to prevent aggravating any spinal injury. Inside your spine is a fragile spinal cord that carries the messages between your brain and your body. While the crash’s impact is unlikely to sever the cord, it can easily be pinched between damaged vertebrae or discs, causing permanent damage.
Some of the problems you can have from a spinal injury include:
- Partial or total paralysis
- Bladder and bowel problems
- Acute long term pain
You may also suffer secondary conditions such as blood clots and skin conditions due to the lack of movement that paralysis entails. You may need permanent help to perform everyday tasks and be left unable to earn an income. An attorney can advise you after a car crash and help ensure the insurers do not pressure you into accepting a settlement that you may later regret.