Spinal cord injuries are one of the most serious consequences of motorcycle accidents. Unlike occupants of passenger vehicles, riders lack the structural protection that helps absorb impact forces, leaving their bodies—including their spines—exposed to direct trauma during a collision. From temporary mobility challenges to permanent changes in lifestyle, Kansas City spinal injury attorneys at Dollar, Burns, Becker & Hershewe explain that the path forward after a spinal cord injury requires determination, support, and access to proper resources.
Types and Severity of Spinal Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents
When you’re involved in a motorcycle accident, your spinal cord can suffer varying degrees of damage. Complete spinal cord injuries result in total loss of sensation and motor function below the injury site. If you sustain damage to your lower or middle spine, you may experience paraplegia, or paralysis of the lower extremities. Injuries to the upper spine often cause quadriplegia, which affects all four limbs.
Incomplete spinal injuries preserve some function below the injury site. Your ability to move or feel sensation depends on which nerves remain intact. Even with incomplete injuries, you may face major mobility challenges and require extensive rehabilitation.
The violent force of a motorcycle accident can also cause vertebral fractures, herniated discs, or spinal compression. These injuries may not sever the spinal cord but can cause substantial pain and limited mobility without proper treatment.
Long-Term Care Needs After a Spinal Cord Injury
Following a spinal cord injury, your medical journey typically begins with emergency care to stabilize your spine and prevent further damage. You may also require surgery. After this initial treatment, you will likely need to participate in a rehabilitation program. This process can be grueling, often requiring months or years of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and adaptive equipment training.
In the years following the injury, your home may need significant modifications: wheelchair ramps, wider doorways, accessible bathrooms, and specialized bedroom equipment. Many spinal cord injury survivors also require personal care assistance for daily activities.
During this time, you may experience depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress while adjusting to your new reality. Psychological counseling often becomes essential for both you and your family members. These ongoing medical needs can also create overwhelming financial pressure; lifetime care costs for severe spinal cord injuries can exceed millions of dollars.
Legal Remedies for Spinal Injury Victims in Kansas City
If you sustained a spinal cord injury in a motorcycle accident and someone else is to blame, you have the right to pursue financial compensation. Your legal options will depend on where in Kansas City the accident took place.
In Missouri, your accident will be subject to the state’s fault-based system. This means you can file an insurance claim or lawsuit directly against the at-fault party. However, Kansas operates under no-fault insurance laws, requiring you to first file through your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. However, working with a skilled personal injury attorney in Kansas City you can step outside the no-fault system if your injury qualifies as serious—which spinal cord injuries invariably do, meeting criteria for permanent injury and loss of body function.
Get Support for Your Motorcycle Accident Case
The financial burden of medical care, home modifications, and lost income shouldn’t fall on your shoulders when someone else causes your motorcycle accident. The Kansas City motorcycle accident attorneys at Dollar, Burns, Becker, and Hershewe have devoted their careers to securing fair settlements for catastrophically injured clients. We understand the full lifetime cost of spinal injuries and fight relentlessly to help provide for your future needs. Contact us at (816) 876-2600 today to schedule your free consultation and begin your legal journey.