Moving a person is highly dangerous if they have spinal cord injuries from a car accident. When someone suffers serious injuries from a car accident, you should immediately call 911 or a local emergency number. Moving a person with a spinal cord injury can cause paralysis or death, so you should err on the side of caution by waiting for professional medical assistance.
If another person’s negligence resulted in severe spinal cord injury to you or a loved one, you have rights and can be compensated under the law. Compass Law Group, LLP specializes in helping you pursue claims after severe injury. Our car accident attorneys in Los Angeles will fight for your right to compensation, working hard to earn you a secure future.
Spinal Cord Injuries Are More Complex Than They Seem
Injuries from car crashes can be complicated and scary, leaving you unsure of what to do. If you notice someone has been injured in an accident, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. As long as the injured person is not at risk of being hit on the road, do not move them.
Even if the injured person believes they are fine, do not move them. A spinal cord injury can be tough to detect, as the body’s ability to feel pain can be suppressed during one.
Spinal Cord Damage Can Happen in an Instant
Spinal cord injuries from car accidents are often immediate, long-lasting, and highly severe. It’s important to avoid exacerbating the injury, if possible. The body will hardly understand its injury, as the communication between the brain and the body is muddied after a spinal cord injury.
What Are the Common Causes and Areas of Spinal Cord Injuries in Car Accidents?
Car accidents occur at varying angles and speeds, making injuries hard to predict. A spinal injury can occur in a variety of ways on the road, so it is important to be aware of some common causes. If you are ejected from your vehicle, you are at extreme risk for a spinal cord injury. You should never try to move after these occurrences, as you can suffer paralysis without proper medical attention.
If your vehicle has been hit from the side or front, you can suffer severe head and neck injuries. These injuries can lead to further spine injury as well. Since a seatbelt does not restrict head or neck movement, your head and neck are often at risk during severe crashes.
A spinal injury can occur in your head, neck, or back. The spinal cord runs through all three of these areas and can be damaged in many ways. Other common spinal injuries, like injuries to the thoracic vertebrae, occur in the upper and middle back and can lead to paralysis.
Injuries from car crashes can occur anywhere on the body, but the area spanning from the lower back to the upper neck is especially prone to irreversible damage. Being knowledgeable about this can save your life or the lives of loved ones.
The last thing you want to do is exacerbate someone’s injury. By understanding the nature of spinal cord injuries, you can increase their chances of recovery. You will also be able to communicate with medical professionals about the injury, understand the road to recovery, and most importantly, take the appropriate actions when the injury occurs.
What Steps Should Be Taken Instead of Moving an Injured Person After a Car Accident?
Moving yourself or someone else who has been in a car accident is dangerous, especially if they suffered a spine, neck, or head injury. If the right steps aren’t taken, a partial spinal cord injury could become severed entirely, and these injuries could quickly worsen to paralysis or even death. Here we’ll go over what to do if you find yourself in this scenario:
What should you do first?
The first thing you should do after noticing a severe injury is call for medical help. By dialing 911 or a local emergency number, you significantly increase the victim’s chance of survival and recovery. When waiting for help to arrive, be sure to stay safe. Don’t approach the injured person unless there is no chance of you being injured by another vehicle.
If it’s safe to do so, stay near the injured person to help them remain calm and motionless. They will likely be panicked, but they must remain as still as possible. By calming and reassuring them, you can stop them from flailing or performing any excess movements. You can reaffirm that you’ll stay by their side until help comes, looking out for potential roadside hazards. This simple assurance may go a long way.
When to Move Someone and How to Move Them
Sometimes you have no choice but to move an injured person. Here are some situations where it’s the right thing to do:
- The injured person is in immediate traffic danger.
- They are close to a fire.
- An explosion or a collapsing structure could affect them.
- The person cannot breathe and needs CPR.
When moving someone injured in a car crash, it is important not to twist or bend them. Grab their shirt at the top of their shoulders, using your arms to cradle their head. If possible, drag them in a straight line. If you have to drag them back and forth, it can increase the risk of further injury.
If necessary, you can pull someone by their feet. Whatever you do, be sure to keep the person’s back and neck straight. But remember—you should only move someone when it is necessary. Sometimes, it can do more harm than good.
Why Prioritize Recovery Over Legal Stress After an Accident
Spinal cord injuries have challenging recoveries, often requiring every drop of strength you have. They are difficult to come back from, but the human spirit prevails. During these tough periods, you should devote your days to recovery and time with loved ones.
While you recover, let the experts handle your legal needs. At Compass Law Group, LLP, we work to reduce client stress by doing all the heavy lifting. Our car crash lawyers in LA perform deep research into your case, building a thorough game plan so you don’t have to.
Car accident injury cases involve highly specialized legal knowledge. A successful injury claim emerges from hundreds of hours of work, and during your recovery, this can be overwhelming. We will check in with you during every step of our process, ensuring that your recovery is going well and keeping you updated on our work.
Why Might a Case With Spinal Cord Damage Need a Lawyer’s Expertise?
Spinal cord lawsuits involve thousands of moving parts. Usually, huge damages are at stake, and these cases require expert testimony from medical professionals and witnesses. Constructing a successful claim can be difficult without the right guidance.
These cases rarely have a straightforward path, but our car accident attorneys in Los Angeles will stand by you at each step. We entered this business because we knew the intimidating nature of accident law—navigating this landscape while simultaneously recovering from an injury can prove to be an impossible endeavor when alone.
Having a dedicated lawyer by your side will increase your chances of a successful claim and make the process much more approachable.
What Challenges Are Involved in Resolving Cases with Spinal Cord Injuries?
Legal cases involving spinal cord injuries from car accidents are never simple. These cases weigh livelihoods in the balance, meaning that every argument and piece of evidence should be purposeful and wisely chosen. The path to a successful injury claim can seem endless and winding, but the right lawyer can turn this path from a labyrinth into a straight shot.
Securing the right witnesses, documents, and approaches often requires a deep knowledge of the legal system. It’s best not to leave these items to chance. At Compass Law Group, LLP, everything we do is calculated. Everything we do is in the service of a better future for our clients.
Compass Law Group, LLP is highly regarded for its uncompromising attitude and exceptional personal attention. We don’t give insurance companies an inch of slack—if we spot a way to earn you more compensation, we will capitalize on it.
Our focus on personal injury has made us a strong force in the courtroom. Our expert-level knowledge of injury law and rigorous research methods allow us to help with the toughest cases and most complex claims. And the best thing about our car crash attorneys in LA is our pricing: you pay no fees unless we win.
The attorneys at Compass Law Group, LLP are available 24/7 and can provide you with a free case evaluation day or night. We are here to help whenever you need it—your well-being is our greatest concern, and we are always willing to fight for it. No matter what it takes, we want to direct you to a successful injury claim.
You can contact Compass Law Group, LLP at 310-289-7126 or request a free consultation online. We look forward to helping you earn the compensation you deserve.
