Our Orange County Personal Injury Lawyers Explain the Consequences of a Motorcycle Accident Spinal Cord Injury
With so much open highway and scenic coastlines, it’s understandable that there are many motorcycle enthusiasts in the Golden State. Orange County is especially known for its beautiful landscape and panoramic views. However, Orange County consistently ranks high for motorcycle accidents each year. In 2023, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) reported over 330 motorcycle accident fatalities or injuries in Orange County. 
If you’re involved in a motorcycle accident, you may suffer life-altering injuries, including a spinal cord injury. Because a motorcycle doesn’t provide an outer body of steel or airbags to protect you, your body will likely absorb the impact when you crash. Our skilled personal injury attorneys at Case Barnett Law understand that when you’re a victim in a motorcycle crash, you need immediate help. We’ve helped hundreds of motorcyclists pursue injury claims after being hit by a negligent driver, and we can help you, too. Here, we discuss the types of spinal cord injuries victims face after a crash and how we can help you obtain fair compensation.
When You Suffer a Spinal Cord Injury in an Orange County Motorcycle Accident
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 5,500 motorcyclists were killed and approximately 83,000 injured on U.S. roads in 2020. It’s a fact that victims in a motorcycle crash are at a greater risk of suffering a severe or catastrophic injury than if they were involved in a car crash.
Recovery after this type of accident can be challenging, especially if you suffered a spinal cord injury (SCI). You can be partially or fully paralyzed, learning to navigate your life in a wheelchair, while coming to terms with the emotional and financial impact of an SCI.
Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is a long, delicate structure that starts at the end of the brain stem and continues down almost to the bottom of the spine. It acts as the superhighway of information about the nervous system and sends messages between the brain and the body. If any part of the structure is damaged, the impact can be quite severe. After a SCI, a patient may experience the following conditions:
- Tetraplegia. This is also called quadriplegia and affects all four limbs and torso.
- Paraplegia. This type of SCI impacts the lower half of the body, including the legs and possibly some trunk control.
- Central cord syndrome. This type of SCI affects the arms and hands more than the legs.
- Brown-Séquard syndrome. This type of SCI causes weakness or paralysis on one side of the body and loss of sensation on the other side.
Possible Spinal Cord Injuries After an Orange County Motorcycle Crash
Doctors categorize SCIs according to the location of the damage and if the injury is incomplete or complete. Here are the primary types of SCIs a motorcyclist may suffer in a crash:
- Cervical spinal cord injuries. This type of SCI means that you’ve suffered damage to the neck area that affects head and neck movement, breathing, and arm and hand function. It may result in quadriplegia/tetraplegia.
- Thoracic spinal cord injuries. This type of SCI means you’ve suffered damage to the upper and middle back that affects muscles in the torso and some leg function. It may result in paraplegia.
- Lumbar spinal cord injuries. This type of SCI means you’ve suffered damage to the lower back that affects hip and leg function. It can result in paraplegia.
- Sacral spinal cord injuries. This type of SCI means you’ve suffered damage to the sacral vertebrae and nerves, affecting the hips, buttocks, thighs, and pelvic organs.
A total lack of sensation and motor function below the area where you were injured is considered a complete SCI. An incomplete injury means you may have some feeling or movement below the damaged area. The higher the injury is on your spinal cord, the more severe the damage is likely to be.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim for an SCI After Your Orange County Motorcycle Crash
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident caused by another driver’s negligence, you have the right to pursue compensation for damages, including the following:
- Past and present medical bills. These bills may include transportation by ambulance, urgent care, diagnostic tests, medications, mobility aids, surgery, and doctor appointments.
- Future medical care costs. If you’ve suffered an SCI, the recovery process can be long and arduous. You may need physical therapy, appointments with orthopedic specialists, and other types of rehab.
- Assistive equipment and home modifications. It’s possible that your injuries will require you to make changes to your home and car. You may need a ramp for a wheelchair or adjustments to your vehicle. You may also need equipment to help you stay mobile, including a cane, crutches, braces, or a wheelchair.
- Lost wages. While you recover, you may not be able to work. Your personal injury claim should include lost wages, as well as decreased earning capacity should you be unable to return to the job you once held.
- Pain and suffering and emotional distress. Many victims suffer emotional trauma after a motorcycle crash, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Obtaining fair compensation isn’t always easy. Insurance companies are focused on their bottom lines and want to pay you as little as possible. They may offer an initial low-ball settlement, and they may try to prove your injuries aren’t serious. That’s why you need a skilled personal injury attorney to provide legal counsel after your motorcycle crash.
Our Orange County Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Can Help
At Case Barnett Law, we have in-depth knowledge of how insurance companies operate and a successful track record for recovering fair compensation for our injured or paralyzed motorcycle clients. As your dedicated legal counsel, we will handle all communication with the insurer and collect the evidence needed to build a strong claim. Let us take on the stress of pursuing justice so you can focus on your recovery.