Many people in California live with chronic pain or disability daily. Some have suffered injuries in a motor vehicle collision or work accident. Others have been victims of violent crime. In any case, a catastrophic injury, such as a spinal cord injury, may greatly reduce the quality of life. In many cases, the victim of a spinal cord injury might not be able to work or function without assistance.
A catastrophic injury often reaches beyond physical health. When an injury results in loss of the ability to do things that were second nature before the accident, it can cause anger, frustration and depression. Such issues, in turn, can impede the recovery process.
Blunt force trauma can cause catastrophic injury to the spine
If a person is riding in a vehicle that is hit by another car or truck, the force of impact can cause a spinal cord injury, even if the person was properly restrained with a seat belt and the airbag deployed. A gunshot or even a fall can have a similar effect. In some cases, a spinal cord injury can leave a person without any feeling in certain parts of the body. Other times, the victim might suffer from lifelong chronic pain.
Seeking support following a spinal cord injury
The recovering victim of a spinal cord injury will undoubtedly need support from a team that is specially trained to handle medical issues. The affected individual may also seek support from family and friends, a therapist who has helped other catastrophic injury patients and a California attorney who can be on hand to assist in court if the individual decides to file a personal injury claim.