Spinal Injuries Have a Lasting Impact on Your Life

You were traveling to work when a vehicle, seemingly out of nowhere, sideswiped you. The initial impact wasn’t too serious, but it did make you put on your brakes. The next thing you knew, you were rear-ended by a vehicle that had been following too close to the rear of your car. When you finally came out of your daze, you knew you were badly hurt. You couldn’t move your legs.

A spinal cord injury is a catastrophic injury. It impacts many aspects of your life, from the hobbies you enjoyed to the career you loved. In many cases, spinal cord injury victims need additional support, e.g., home health care, at least in the immediate future. Physical and occupational therapies and other supportive services may be needed on an ongoing basis or at least initially after your wreck.

While you may see the physical impact of your injuries immediately, you may also have psychological impacts. Some people who suffer spinal cord injuries wind up also diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression or anxiety.

Now that you’re dealing with something so serious, it can take awhile to get used to this disability. You may see significant changes in what you can do, your tolerance for certain activities or your ability to spend time with others. It’s okay to be disheartened by the situation, to be angry or upset. After all, this wouldn’t have happened if not for the other driver’s negligence.

After an injury like this, you may want to work with counselors, psychiatrists, physical therapists and others to manage your care. This will be expensive, which is why it’s so important to make sure you hold the driver who hit you responsible for your injuries. Our website has more on what you can do to get the most compensation for your injuries.