Paralyzing Injuries in Virginia: Pool Party Prank Robs VA Beach Woman of Use of Her Legs

A woman suffered a spinal cord injury when she was pushed by a friend into a pool at her bachelorette party in Virginia Beach, VA, according to the Virginian-Pilot. "As soon as I hit the water, I felt my body kind of stiffen up. I went numb and I kind of heard a crack in my neck," the woman told msnbc.com.

That crack was her C6 cervical vertebra fracturing when her head hit the bottom of the pool. Since the pool accident, she has had no feeling below her collarbone and doctors say there is no chance she will walk again.

This video from ABC's Good Morning America tells more of the woman's story and its happier-than-expected ending:

The paralyzing injury illustrates several important lessons. The first is that remaining cautious and vigilant around backyard pools are important. This woman had her life changed forever just falling into a pool. Second, the disabling accident shows how easy it is for anyone to suffer a severe, possibly fatal, injury from the most seemingly minor incident. Due to a friendly tap at a party, the woman may never walk again. There appears to have been no malice intended by the friend who pushed her, but it was negligent to take such action without knowing that the pool was only 3 1/2 feet deep.

Check out these other videos and article on paralysis and paralyzing injuries featuring information from experienced Virginia personal injury attorneys: Fairfax, Virginia (VA) Man Paralyzed for Life in Accident Compensation for Permanent Injuries Like TBI or Paralysis (Video) Accidents Resulting in Paralyzed Arms and Legs (Video) Paralyzed Car Crash Victim Perseveres and Walks at His Graduation

As a Virginia and Carolina personal injury attorney who has represented people who suffered paraplegia and quadriplegia because of accidents on the job, in cars and trucks and in freak occurrences like the pool prank, I know how debilitating paralysis can be. Suffering paralysis from an accident is one of the most serious injuries a person can suffer. Almost everything in the victim's life changes and becomes more challenging. Finding and holding a job can prove impossible, medical expenses for treatment and therapy can be financially crippling, and friends and family members often have to assume the role of full-time caregivers.

Anyone who becomes paralyzed because of an accident or situation caused or created by another person or company should contact a personal injury attorney with experience in handling head, brain and neck injury cases to discuss their legal options for receiving compensation.