What Qualifies as a Spinal Cord Injury?

A spinal cord injury is damage to the bundle of nerves and nerve fibers that run through your spine and send signals between your brain and the rest of your body. When the spinal cord is damaged, communication between the brain and the body below the injury site is disrupted, leading to loss of movement, sensation, or both.

Not every spine injury is a spinal cord injury. A broken vertebra (the bone that protects the cord) or a back strain is different from actual damage to the spinal cord itself. The distinction matters because spinal cord injuries typically cause permanent changes in strength, sensation, and bodily function.

Understanding spinal cord injuries

The spinal cord is protected by three layers of tissue and surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid that acts as a cushion. When trauma—such as a motor vehicle crash or fall—fractures or dislocates a vertebra or tears the cord tissue directly, the injury disrupts the nerve signals that control movement and sensation.

The severity of a spinal cord injury depends on two things: where on the spine the damage occurs and how much of the cord is damaged. A higher injury on the spine typically affects more of the body. An injury at the neck level may affect the arms, hands, and legs. An injury lower on the spine may affect only the legs and lower body functions.

The spinal cord has four main regions, each controlling different parts of the body:

• Cervical (neck): Controls the back of the head, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, and the diaphragm—the muscle that allows you to breathe.
• Thoracic (upper mid-back): Controls the chest muscles, some back muscles, and many organ systems.
• Lumbar (lower mid-back): Controls the lower abdomen, buttocks, external genital organs, and parts of the legs.
• Sacral (base of spine): Controls the thighs, lower legs, feet, and bowel and bladder function.

Injuries at the cervical level are often the most serious because they can affect breathing and movement throughout the body.

Complete versus incomplete spinal cord injuries

A complete spinal cord injury means the cord is fully severed or so badly damaged that no nerve signals pass through the injury site. A person with a complete injury loses all movement and sensation below the level of the injury.

An incomplete spinal cord injury means the cord is partially damaged. Some nerve signals still travel through the injury site, so some movement or sensation may remain below the injury level. Incomplete injuries vary widely from person to person—two people with injuries at the same level may have very different outcomes.

The difference between complete and incomplete is determined by medical imaging (MRI or CT scan) and neurological testing, not by the cause of the injury. A high-speed crash and a fall can each cause either type.

Signs of a spinal cord injury

Immediately after a crash or accident, watch for these warning signs:

• Severe pain or pressure in the head, neck, or back
• Loss of movement or paralysis in the arms or legs
• Loss of or change in sensation (numbness, tingling, or weakness)
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Difficulty breathing (in high cervical injuries)
• Muscle spasms or stiffness

Not all spinal cord injuries show obvious signs right away. Some symptoms develop over hours or days as swelling increases. This is why medical evaluation is critical after any serious crash or fall involving the head, neck, or back.

A doctor diagnoses a spinal cord injury using imaging tests (MRI or CT scan) and a neurological examination that tests your strength, sensation, and reflexes.

Common causes of spinal cord injuries

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in working-age adults. Commercial truck accidents create especially severe forces because of the size and weight of the vehicles involved. Other common causes include:

• Falls from height
• Violent trauma or assault
• Sports and recreation accidents
• Workplace injuries

Any sudden, forceful impact to the spine can cause injury. The force doesn’t have to break a bone to damage the cord—severe twisting or compression can tear nerve tissue.

Life after a spinal cord injury

Recovery from a spinal cord injury is a long process. The first weeks focus on preventing further damage and managing swelling. Over months and years, rehabilitation helps maximize remaining function and adapt to changes.

Many people with spinal cord injuries require ongoing medical care, therapy, assistive devices, and home modifications. The costs are substantial, and lifetime expenses can be significant, depending on the person’s age at injury and the severity of the injury.

Return to work, school, or independent living depends on the individual injury and the support available. Psychological and emotional adjustment is part of recovery too.

If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury

Immediate medical evaluation is critical. Get to a hospital emergency department right away to prevent further damage and begin treatment.

If the injury resulted from a crash or someone else’s negligence, you may have legal rights. However, Virginia follows contributory negligence: if you are found even partly at fault, you may be barred from recovering, with limited exceptions. Talk to a lawyer about your facts.

Documentation matters: keep medical records, photographs of the accident scene, police reports, and witness contact information. These help establish what happened and support any legal claim for compensation for medical expenses, ongoing care, lost income, and other damages.

Frequently asked questions

If a crash or accident left you or a loved one with a spinal cord injury, understanding what happened is the first step—and you may have legal rights to compensation for your care and losses. Correll Law Firm handles spinal cord injury cases from the Shenandoah Valley to Richmond and Henrico County.