Motorcycles are fast, agile and a lot of fun – but all it takes is one careless driver to cause a tragic wreck. This is why wearing a motorcycle helmet and other safety gear is so crucial. Unfortunately, even the best equipment cannot prevent all injuries.
As a motorcycle rider, your spine is exposed to impact, especially to vehicles approaching from the rear or sides. Your spinal cord plays a role in nearly every vital function in your body, so even a minor injury can result in devastating effects that cost a veritable fortune to treat and leave you sidelined from work.
If you suffered a spinal injury in a motorcycle crash, turn to to an Albuquerque back injury lawyer at The Law Office of Brian K. Branch, PC for advice. With more than three decades of combined legal experience, our motorcycle accident attorneys have the knowledge and resources to help you through this tough time.
Since our founding in 1997, our law firm has been providing compassionate representation to victims of personal injury and wrongful death throughout New Mexico. Call 505-207-4401 today to set up a free initial consultation.
5 Signs You May Have a Spinal Cord Injury After a Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle accidents tend to be more severe than those involving other types of vehicles. According to research conducted in 2014 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, fatalities occurred 27 times more often in motorcycle crashes than in other types of collisions.
Even non-fatal accidents can have long-lasting effects if they result in a spinal cord injury. The Mayo Clinic warns that after a crash in which the back may have been affected, it is critical to assume the spine has experienced trauma. Although the assumption might be wrong, you could face severe and lifelong consequences if you injured your spine and failed to see prompt medical attention.
These five spinal injury symptoms are common after a motorcycle accident:
- Pain or pressure in the neck, head or back;
- Weakness or paralysis anywhere in the body;
- Numbness, tingling or a loss of sensation in the extremities;
- Difficulty balancing or walking unassisted; or
- An unnaturally twisted neck or back.
If you think your spine may have been hurt in an accident, it is crucial that you see a doctor right away. Leaving the injury for too long without treatment can lead to swelling and bleeding around the spinal cord and could result in paralysis.
Speak to one of the back injury lawyers at The Law Office of Brian K. Branch, PC to discuss your symptoms and the circumstances of the crash. Call 505-207-4401 today for a free initial consultation with a motorcycle accident attorney. You can learn more about motorcycle accident claims in New Mexico by visiting USAttorneys.com.
The Law Office of Brian K. Branch, PC
715 Marquette Avenue NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
505-207-4401