High-speed crashes often lead to catastrophic injuries that can impact victims for the rest of their lives. Victims may require intensive medical care, therapy and rehabilitation as they heal as much as possible from their injuries.
Spinal cord injuries (SCIs), traumatic amputations and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) may not heal in a way that enables a victim to return to their former lifestyle. Instead, they may have to find accommodations that can help them overcome the effects of the injury.
Spinal cord injuries
An SCI occurs when damage to the spinal cord stops the messages going from the brain to specific areas of the body. In high-speed crashes, the force can fracture or dislocate vertebrae, leading to compression or severance of the spinal cord.
Depending on the injury’s location, victims may experience partial or complete paralysis, loss of sensation and dysfunction of the bowel and bladder. The higher the injury on the spinal cord, the more severe the impairment. High cervical injuries can often result in quadriplegia, which is paralysis of all four limbs.
Traumatic amputations
Traumatic amputations refer to the loss of a body part, most commonly limbs, during the accident itself. High-speed crashes can exert such force that limbs are severed immediately or are so severely damaged that surgical amputation becomes necessary.
The physical and psychological aftermath of amputation is profound, requiring physical rehabilitation and adjustment to prosthetics but also emotional support to cope with the loss of a part of one’s body and the associated changes in body image and functionality.
Traumatic brain injuries
TBIs are of a result of a blow to the head or a violent shaking of the brain that disrupts normal brain function. These are a common outcome of high-speed vehicle accidents. The severity can range from mild concussions to severe brain damage, affecting cognitive functions, motor skills, emotions and behavior.
The most severe TBIs can lead to permanent neurological damage, coma or death. Recovery from a TBI varies widely. Some individuals may experience a significant recovery, while others may face lifelong disabilities requiring ongoing care and support.
When someone else’s negligence causes a crash, victims may choose to seek compensation for financial damages. However, victims should remember that they only have a limited time to file a claim. Working with a legal representative who can explain the process and get things going effectively can reduce the stress victims experience as a result of the “legal side” of their post-crash reality.