Exoskeleton Device Helps Texas Car Accident Victim Walk
If you have suffered a spinal cord injury in a car crash, your mobility may never be the same as it was before the accident. However, medical technology is constantly evolving to better meet the needs of injury victims. In fact, a Texas teenager who was paralyzed in an accident in February has been able to regain substantial mobility thanks to treatment at San Antonio’s University Hospital and a robotic device called an Exoskeleton. Such technology may be able to help you or your loved one as well, and a personal injury claim against an at-fault driver can help you cover any associated expenses.
Advances in Technology for Spinal Cord Injury Victims
Damage to a person’s spinal cord can cause partial or total paralysis from the waist down. Unfortunately, there are no reliable means of repairing spinal cord damage and reversing these effects. Rather, treatment and rehabilitation for spinal cord injuries typically focus on helping a person maintain as much mobility as possible within the limitations of the injury.
In recent years, the company ReWalk Robotics has developed a product known as the Exoskeleton to assist with mobility, and it has been approved by the FDA in the United States. The device is strapped around the user’s lower torso and legs, and it features motors at the hips and knees that respond when the user leans their upper body forward, propelling their legs and essentially allowing them to walk upright with the assistance of crutches. The device helps to prevent the atrophy of muscles and bones in the legs and upper body, and research has shown it to be effective in allowing spinal cord injury victims to walk independently after training and rehabilitation.
Are Assistive Devices Covered in a Personal Injury Claim?
It is understandable that cutting-edge technology of this nature would come at a high financial cost, and you may wonder whether it is something that you can afford. In Texas, victims of injuries caused by another person’s negligence can pursue compensation for all relevant medical expenses, and this can include surgery, medication, physical therapy, and medical devices such as a wheelchair, crutches, or more advanced technology like the Exoskeleton. A medical expert can testify regarding the necessity and benefits of an assistive device to help you make the case that its costs should be included in the damages you are owed.
Contact a New Braunfels, TX Personal Injury Lawyer
At The Bettersworth Law Firm, we believe it is important for injury victims to have access to the full extent of resources that can help them recover and enjoy a better quality of life. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, we can help you understand what your case is worth and pursue compensation that covers medical devices necessary for your recovery. Contact a New Braunfels spinal cord injury attorney today at 830-443-9193 for a free consultation.
Sources:
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2021/03/28/san-antonio-teen-paralyzed-in-car-crash-during-winter-storm-is-back-standing-on-his-feet/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30156088/
