Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

A spinal cord injury is a life-changing experience. Your future is unclear as you navigate medical care and the possibility of permanent non-mobility. Even with modern medical treatments, you may never regain the functionality you once had. If your spinal cord injury is due to the negligence or direct harm of another, you may be eligible for compensation. Hiring a spinal cord injury lawyer is an important first step. Contact our office today

Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal cord is the network that sends signals from the brain to the rest of the body. Damage to any part of the spinal cord disrupts the transmissions and doesn’t allow signals to reach the different parts of the body. Many people who have experienced such a devastating injury have adapted to their situation. With medical treatment, basics such as wheelchairs, and adaptive technologies, many spinal cord injury patients can return to working and lead a rewarding life. Therapies like locomotor training may help some patients regain some abilities.

However, living with and treating a spinal cord injury can run into the millions. Lost income can mean even more. So it’s important that after an accident, you have a settlement that covers the expenses you’ll need for continued care. If you’ve been through an accident that is no fault, a spinal cord injury lawyer can help you recover the compensation you need to take care of yourself and your family.

Two Types Of Injuries

Doctors classify spinal cord injuries as “complete” and “incomplete,” depending on the level of motor and sensory functioning below the level of the injury.

  • A complete injury indicates no functioning below the level of the injury
  • An incomplete injury means the spine can still communicate with the rest of the body, albeit limited. There may also be some remaining sensation.

Depending on the location of the injury, paralysis can be just the lower part of the body or all four limbs (called “quadriplegia” or “tetraplegia.”) Paralysis can be either temporary or permanent. The spinal cord cannot regrow cells after an injury.

Symptoms like these may not appear immediately:

  • Numbness in the extremities
  • Loss of coordination in motor functions
  • Lost sensation or tingling in hands and fingers or feet and toes
  • Weakness or pain in the back, head or neck, areas
  • Paralysis in any part of the body, either partial or complete

Each patient’s reaction is different, and a spinal injury may not be obvious immediately. That’s why it’s vital to have a medical examination after an accident and determine the extent of the injury.

Causes Of Spinal Cord Injuries

The most common causes of SCI are:

  • Vehicular accidents in cars and other motor vehicles
  • Workplace accidents, especially where physical labor is involved
  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Sports and recreational accidents
  • Defective products
  • Illnesses such as cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, and spinal cord inflammation
  • Medical malpractice
  • Acts of physical violence, such as knife assaults and gunshot wounds

Also included are other injuries like fractures, contusions, dislocations, compressed vertebra, and damage to any section of the spine. Alcohol is a factor in one out of every four of these accidents.

How A Spinal Cord Injury Impacts Your Life

An accident that leaves you a paraplegic or tetraplegic is a life-changing event for you and your family. Spinal cord injuries usually include significant pain, expensive and lifelong medical treatment, and other physical and emotional aspects.

SCI damage can include other complications such as:

  • Lost sensation on the skin
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Issues with the autonomic nervous system
  • Circulation problems
  • Muscle tone loss
  • Weakened immune system
  • Pressure sores
  • Nerve damage
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Difficulty controlling bladder and bowels
  • Depression

Because there is no cure for spinal cord injuries, everyday tasks become difficult, if not impossible, requiring daily assistance for the rest of your life.

What Kind Of Damages Can You Seek For SCI?

If you’ve suffered this injury through no fault, you should seek compensation to help pay for the care you need. As an SCI patient, the costs of living with a spinal cord injury are considerable. You’ll need compensation for your long-term care, which can exceed $1M over your lifetime.

In addition, your home may need to be remodeled for needs such as wheelchair accessibility and other adaptive technologies. Other expenses may appear later. Because an SCI injury is life-changing, you can seek compensation for things like:

  • Medical expenses for the accident
  • Continuing medical care, including medications and rehabilitation
  • Wheelchairs and other medical equipment
  • Future medical treatments
  • Lost wages, including future wages
  • Home remodeling for accessibility
  • Pain & suffering, including diminished quality of life
  • Emotional suffering, including loss of consortium
  • Diminished quality of life

Our attorneys understand the types of compensation that are available for SCI cases. We can help you seek a fair settlement that can cover the costs of your injury and continuing care.

Get Legal Help From A Law Firm You Can Trust

While you need the support of your family and friends for your recovery, they can’t help you get the compensation you’ll need for the rest of your life. The insurance adjuster is not your friend and will work to either deny your claim or give you as little as possible, leaving you with big bills you can’t pay. Speak to a spinal cord injury lawyer as soon as possible.

A spinal cord injury is a life-changing experience. Your future is unclear as you navigate medical care and the possibility of permanent non-mobility. Even with modern medical treatments, you may never regain the functionality you once had. If your spinal cord injury is due to the negligence or direct harm of another, you may be eligible for compensation. Hiring a spinal cord injury lawyer is an important first step. Contact our office today.

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