By Dan Noll on September 27th, 2023 in Personal Injury, Semi-Truck Accidents
SCI After an 18-Wheeler Wreck? Experienced Trucking Accident Lawyer in Springfield Explains Damages for a Spinal Fusion After a Trucking Accident in Illinois
One of the most serious and devastating types of personal injuries in a motor vehicle accident is a spinal cord injury. This is a catastrophic type of injury that is more common in motor vehicle accidents involving large commercial vehicles like big rigs, 18-wheelers, and other box trucks because of their heavy weight and powerful momentum. One of the most common ways to treat a spinal cord injury, neck injury, or back injury is with a spinal fusion after a trucking accident in Illinois. This is an invasive procedure that causes permanent damage and limitations for a victim. Unfortunately, the experienced trucking accident lawyers in Springfield at the Noll Law Office know that many defense lawyers and insurance adjusters will not fairly compensate victims and their families for this type of personal injury.
That’s why victims and their families should be prepared to fight back after suffering any type of catastrophic personal injury in a trucking accident, especially for spinal cord injuries. Not only is a victim’s pain and suffering going to be significant for this type of injury, but victims and families often suffer high medical bills, lost wages, and other overwhelming financial hurdles. Therefore, victims who need a spinal fusion after a trucking accident in Illinois should contact the Noll Law Office to schedule a FREE consultation with one of their experienced trucking accident lawyers in Springfield at (217) 414-8889.
What is a Spinal Fusion?
A spinal fusion is a complicated surgical procedure on the vertebral column or spine. The spine is a very complex collection of bones, ligaments, tendons, discs, and of course, the spinal cord and many large branches of nerves that originate out of it. An important trait of the spine is that it is both very flexible and able to bend, curve, or twist, while also being very strong and protective to the spinal cord and the nerve roots.
However, when a powerful trucking accident disrupts this flexible yet strong structure, it often cannot be repaired without surgical intervention. Although many surgeons will try certain less-invasive procedures like nerve ablation or partial discectomies, oftentimes a spinal fusion is necessary to repair the damage done and attempt to bring the victim back to as close as possible to the victim’s pre-accident state.
To do so, a surgeon will remove portions of vertebrae above and below the injury location. A surgeon will also remove portions of the disc between those vertebrae, which is meant to cushion the bones from grinding against each other while also creating that flexible nature that a spine has. Once the disc is removed, an inflexible space is put into its place. A surgeon will then drill in several screws in the vertebrae above and below this spacer, and then connect rods through those screws in order to keep the vertebrae, spacer, and other structures “locked” in the injury location. By doing this, a surgeon can control the flexing of the spine which causes pain to the nerves or which could damage the spinal cord.
Outcome of a Spinal Fusion After a Trucking Accident in Illinois
A spinal fusion is irreversible. It is also permanent and comes with a permanent restriction on a victim’s range of motion. This means that a victim will forever have some limitation to the flex or movement of his or her spine, upper body, lower body, shoulders/arm, or other parts of his or her body. Not only will a victim have limitations to his or her range of movement, but there are usually lifting, carrying, push/pull, and other similar limitations on what a person can and can’t do.
Unfortunately, while a spinal fusion often works to help with a victim’s back pain, it is not always successful. Indeed, the spinal cord and back are very complex structures. Serious impacts in a motor vehicle accident such as a trucking wreck could cause damage that can only be mitigated but not entirely eliminated. Sometimes a spinal fusion will only minimally help a victim, and his or her pain and suffering will continue without much difference from the time of the accident until the end of his or her life. Other times a spinal fusion will help relieve some pain, but not all pain. And even other times, a spinal fusion may actually resolve the main injuries and pain but actually cause new pain due to the hardware that cannot be removed.
In any of these scenarios, it is often very difficult for victims and their families to move forward. There are significant physical, emotional, and financial burdens to overcome, many of which are overwhelming without the help of an experienced trucking accident lawyer in Springfield.
Did You Suffer a Spinal Fusion After a Trucking Accident in Illinois? Call the Noll Law Office
Any type of spinal cord injury or damage to the back, neck, or spine is a very serious type of personal injury. That means that it should be handled by a very serious and experienced type of lawyer. At the Noll Law Office, their experienced and compassionate legal team has dedicated their practice to providing help to victims and their families who have been hurt in the community. They are fifth-generation lawyers who have served this community and Illinois with pride and distinction, standing up to some of the largest insurance carriers and defense law firms in the region.
If you or a loved one suffered any type of personal injury in an accident, especially if you suffered a spinal fusion after a trucking accident in Illinois, contact the Noll Law Office to schedule a FREE consultation to begin working with their law firm.