A healthy person's life can change in an instant. One Massachusetts woman lost her ability to walk in a tragic accident she suffered two years ago. She was riding in her boyfriend's car when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree. The impact inflicted spinal cord injuries serious enough to cause paralysis.

The woman, now 20 years old, has been working hard to be able to walk once again. She has already made significant progress in her physical therapy sessions, but is worried that the cost of her treatment may be prohibitive. Despite the setbacks, she remains intent on her goal.

Before her accident, the young woman loved to dance and attend fitness classes. Her injury has prevented her from doing the things she loves to do. In addition, the woman's catastrophic injuries have hindered her ability to work and earn a wage, which would definitely help her family cover the cost of physical therapy. In a brief moment, this young woman's life was forever changed.

It is often the case that spinal cord injuries are catastrophic, and not all paralysis victims are so confident they will walk again. This type of injury has a particularly significant impact on a victim's quality of life. Many times the consequences of spinal cord injuries are not just physical. Even this particular woman, who is incredibly motivated to improve her condition, has battled with depression.

When someone's irresponsible behavior leads to a serious spinal cord injury, the victim and their family suffer tremendously. As such, they may be entitled to compensation for all of the damages incurred as a result of the other person's negligence. Though legal claims cannot change what happened, they can go a long way to help families recover from tragedy, especially when it comes to medical bills.

Though the Massachusetts woman knows she has a long road ahead, she commented, "I know I'm going to get there."

Source: Waltham News Tribune, "Waltham resident paralyzed in crash: 'I'm going to walk'," Ignacio Laguarda, Feb. 17, 2012