Motor Disabilities Caused By Car Accidents
For every 14 seconds, a person is injured by car accidents in the United States
, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
In a recent study, researchers found that majority of traffic-related injuries resulted to paraplegia and quadriplegia, two disabilities which affect the motor skills of people.
Paraplegia Caused by Car Accidents
In most cases of car accidents, victims sustained injuries which may result to paraplegia because of trauma from hitting a hard object or from the crushing force of the collision.
In this type of disability, a certain part of the spinal cord is injured, thus affecting the muscles and the peripheral nervous system.
According to doctors, paraplegia affects the lower extremities of people that may prevent them to walk. In serious cases, some victims also suffer from urinary and fecal incontinence.
Paraplegia does not only affect the basic activities of people. This disability also makes them vulnerable to certain illnesses and medical complications such as pneumonia, thrombosis or the formation of blood clot, and pressure sores.
Quadriplegia Caused by Car Crash
This is another common disability which is caused by car accidents. In this condition, people lose their inability to move both of their hands and feet. In serious cases, patients also lose their sensation on their limbs.
Usually, quadriplegia is caused by damage to the spinal cord or brain. The affected area and the severity of the injury will determine if a patient will lose the total function of his four limbs or suffer partial loss of sensation and muscle control to these parts.
Meanwhile, some patients who are suffering from quadriplegia can still move their arms and only their fingers would lose motor functions and sensation.
According to a recent study, a huge percent of quadriplegia is caused by car accidents. Other causes of this disability are slip and fall accidents and sports-related injuries.
Doctors said that most patients with quadriplegia are vulnerable to osteoporosis, bone fractures, pressure sores, thrombosis, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory ailments.
Patients also suffer from loss of muscle control and sensation in all four limbs. In addition, it is common for quadriplegic people to feel numbness and piercing pain and experience difficulty in breathing.
In severe cases, patients may lose their digestive and sexual functions and ability to control their urinary and bowel movement.
Disability and Legal Ramifications
In case the disability is caused by reckless drivers, victims have the legal ground to file personal injury claims to recover loss of wages, diminished or complete loss of earning capacity, medical expenses, and emotional trauma.
According to Los Angeles lawyers, disabled victims usually get higher compensation from the reckless party to compensate the damages. With a bigger monetary award, the negligent individual will also be discouraged from committing again his reckless action.
by: Nemilou Despuez
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