Your spinal column is one of your body’s most vulnerable areas, consisting of the vertebrae that protect the spinal cord, a crucial element of your nervous system. The nature of most car accidents can put your vertebrae at major risk of various types of injuries.
If you experience a car accident in Spokane, you face the possibility of diverse injuries, each with its own set of challenges. In particular, sustaining an injury to your vertebrae can result in severe and long-lasting damage, with potentially fatal consequences in the worst-case scenario.
Experience When You Need It From CCD Law
To aid in your recovery following a bone fracture from a car accident in Spokane, you’ll need assistance from several professionals, including doctors, surgeons, and legal experts who can help you pursue damages for your injuries.
Established in 1948, CCD Law has a team of seasoned Spokane car accident lawyers who can offer you comprehensive support throughout this process, from initial investigation to building a compelling case. Contact us for a free consultation to learn more about how we can assist you.
Car Accidents in Spokane
As one of Washington’s largest cities, Spokane sees its fair share of car accidents. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation’s 2022 data on Spokane car accidents, there were:
- 123 car accidents that caused serious or fatal injuries
These incidents span all different types of car accident. As anyone who spends time on the road in Spokane can attest, there are any number of factors that contribute to these accidents. Some of the most common causes include
- Distractions– When drivers are distracted by their things like their phone, food, or passengers, they are not fully focused on the road. This can lead to them making errors in judgment, losing control of their vehicle, and causing accidents that result in vertebrae fractures.
- Reckless driving – Speeding and reckless driving is a leading cause of car accidents in Spokane. When drivers exceed the speed limit, they have less time to react to sudden changes in traffic, leading to crashes that can cause severe injuries such as vertebrae fractures.
- Driving under the influence – When drivers are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they are impaired and not able to make sound judgments on the road. This can result in them driving recklessly and causing accidents that can lead to severe injuries such as vertebrae fractures.
- Weather conditions – Spokane sees all different types of weather throughout the year, from snow and ice to rain and fog. All of these conditions affect visibility and make the road slippery, leading to accidents that can cause injuries such as vertebrae fractures.
- Road design – Poorly designed roads, lack of warning signs, and inadequate lighting can make it challenging for drivers to navigate safely. This can result in accidents that cause vertebrae fractures.
While not every one of these accidents involved vertebrae fractures, such an injury can certainly be described as serious. Understanding the nature of vertebrae fractures and how they happen in certain car accidents is necessary to grasp how devastating these incidents can be fully.
Vertebrae Fractures and Spokane Car Accidents
Unfortunately, a vertebrae fracture can happen in any car accident in Spokane. That said, certain types of car accidents make vertebrae fractures more likely. Going a step further, every car accident’s unique circumstances, like speed and direction of impact, can more frequently lead to vertebrae fractures and similar types of injuries. These types of accidents include:
- Rollover accidents – Rollover accidents can cause severe injuries, including vertebrae fractures. The force of a rollover can cause the spine to twist and bend unnaturally, leading to fractures in the vertebrae.
- Head-On collisions – The impact of two cars colliding head-on can result in severe injuries, such as vertebrae fractures. This is due to the sudden deceleration of the body, caused by the force of the impact, which can compress and fracture the spine.
- T-Bone accidents – T-bone accidents occur when a car is hit on the side, and the impact can cause the body to twist or turn suddenly, leading to vertebrae fractures. Passengers seated on the side that is hit are particularly vulnerable to such injuries.
Understanding Vertebrae Fractures
No matter what type of car accident you’re in, it could result in vertebrae fractures. Vertebrae fractures can lead to spinal cord damage, which can cause nerve damage, muscle weakness, and even paralysis. In the worst-case scenario, a severe vertebrae fracture can be life-threatening if it damages the spinal cord sufficiently to affect breathing.
While any vertebrae fracture is serious, there are a number of different types of fractures that you need to be aware of, such as:
- Compression fractures – Compression fractures occur when the vertebrae are compressed or squeezed, causing the bone to collapse.
- Burst fractures – A burst fracture occurs when the vertebrae are crushed or shattered, causing the bone to break into several pieces. This type of fracture is often caused by high-impact trauma, such as a car accident.
- Flexion-distraction fractures – This type of fracture occurs when the vertebrae are pulled apart, causing the bone to fracture. This type of fracture is often seen in car accidents where the person is wearing a seatbelt, and the force of the accident causes the spine to bend forward.
- Fracture-dislocation – A fracture-dislocation occurs when the vertebrae break, and the bone is displaced or moved out of its normal position. This type of fracture is often caused by high-impact trauma, such as a fall from a significant height.
- Chance fractures – A Chance fracture is a specific type of flexion-distraction fracture that occurs when the vertebrae fracture in a horizontal pattern. This type of fracture is often seen in car accidents, where the person is not wearing a seatbelt, and the force of the accident causes the spine to bend forward.
Regardless of the type of vertebrae fracture you experience in a car accident, you’re likely going to be facing serious medical treatment and bills, along with other damage you’ll have to deal with. That’s why it’s important to keep your legal options in mind, so you can recover the available benefits and support you need.
How Can You Recover Damages After a Spokane Car Accident?
When you’re facing a vertebrae fracture, the recovery process requires a lot of work. Not only do you have to recover physically and mentally, which is difficult enough on its own, but you also have to face financial recovery. Having an injury as serious as a vertebrae fracture means medical bills for treatment, surgery, therapy, and ongoing treatment. Then, factor in the fact that you may not be able to work or even enjoy the same quality of life you had pre-accident.
All of these issues factor into your recovery, and that’s where our legal team at CCD Law can help. We have years of experience helping clients like you navigate this process. Generally, we can help you by:
- Gathering important medical records and documentation to show the extent of your losses.
- Investigating the details of your accident.
- Helping you determine who is responsible for your accident and pursuing a claim against them.
- Providing you with guidance on the legal process, your options, and the likely outcomes of your case.
There are generally two avenues to recovering compensation after a Spokane car accident: filing an insurance claim and filing a lawsuit. Both avenues allow you to recover damages from the at-fault party. These damages include:
- Medical expenses and bills
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
It’s always important to remember that recovering these damages can be a complex and lengthy process. However, by working with our team of seasoned Spokane car accident lawyers, we can make sure you get fair compensation for your injuries.
Free Consultations After a Spokane Car Accident
If you have sustained a vertebrae fracture or any other injury in a car accident in Spokane, CCD Law can provide you with the legal expertise you need. Our team has been helping clients in Spokane navigate the claims process and recover compensation since 1948.
Dealing with the aftermath of an accident can be an incredibly difficult experience, and we understand how overwhelming it can be. That’s why we’re here to provide you with the support and assistance you need to get your life back on track.
To learn more about how we can help you, contact us today for a free consultation.
