Jurisdictions throughout the nation have adopted mandatory helmet laws for motorcyclists. This is because the risk of head injuries resulting from motorcycle collisions is significant and traumatic brain injuries can cause victims to suffer debilitating harm and even death when they are sustained. However, there is another form of injury that can leave a Massachusetts motorcyclist with serious health complications and that can change the course of their life forever: a spinal cord injury.
A spinal cord injury happens when a victim suffers trauma to the spinal cord and column. The spinal cord is a group of nerves that run down the back of a person’s body, and the spinal column is the set of bones that protect the column from harm. If a person severs their spinal column, they can lose all sensation below that place in their body and can suffer permanent paralysis of their affected systems.
Paralysis causes a person to lose the ability to move their body. If a person suffers a spinal cord injury in their neck, it is possible that they may lose the full use and movement of their entire body. A motorcyclist who is hit by a motor vehicle could suffer a spinal cord injury if they hit a surface or break their neck as a result of being thrown from their motorcycle.
A spinal cord injury may require a motorcyclist to give up their job and seek the constant assistance of others just to get through each day. Living in such a manner may be emotionally painful and financially costly. When dealing with a serious injury like a spinal cord injury, it can be important for victims of motorcycle accidents to know their rights to seek financial help for their losses.
