Commercial vehicle accidents injure thousands of people in Missouri each year, some resulting in life-altering complications.
Even highly skilled truck drivers have difficulty operating in heavy traffic or hazardous road conditions. Influences such as fatigue, drugs or alcohol can further impair big rig operators, leading to deadly crashes.
What is a spinal cord injury?
Trauma to any part of the spine or spinal canal is a spinal cord injury, which has a major impact on strength, mobility and overall health. Serious neck and back injuries often lead to life-long struggles with physical and emotional pain. Common symptoms include:
- Head, neck, back or nerve pain
- Decreased range of motion or balance issues
- Altered strength or numbness in appendages
- Muscle spasms
- Difficulty breathing
- Decreased bladder control
Due to the circumstances of the accident and other factors, symptoms of a serious spinal cord injury may not present right away.
When should you seek treatment?
Any injury to the head or neck could indicate severe spinal damage and needs immediate medical attention. Waiting too long to address your symptoms could result in painful, irreversible and life-long consequences.
How can you prevent a spinal cord injury?
To reduce your risk of sustaining severe trauma to your neck and back while driving, you can diligently follow Missouri traffic laws, wear your seat belt and drive defensively. When sharing the road with large commercial vehicles, you should strive to maintain a safe distance and remain visible to other drivers.
Collisions are sometimes unavoidable, so it is important to focus on your medical needs in the aftermath of a trucking accident.
