Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers

There are around 11,000 new cases of reported spinal cord injuries in the United States every year.

A spinal cord injury occurs when there is damage to the cells and nerves that run between the brain and the spinal cord. The spinal cord runs down from the brain to the lower back. The spinal cord is considered to be one of the most sensitive organs in the human body. Just one abrupt force to the spinal cord could affect someone’s life forever. That is why we recommend that you talk to our highly qualified attorneys in the event that you or a loved one have suffered spinal cord injuries because of another party’s negligence.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPINAL CORD INJURIES? 

There are several different types of spinal cord injuries. Our firm has represented victims that range in severity of spinal cord injuries. We have been representing spinal cord injury victims for decades. The most common spinal cord injuries are: 

• Paralysis: This occurs when the nervous system suffers a severe impact. This can cause the inability to move around or feel. Paralysis could affect the entire spinal cord or even a single muscle.
• Disc replacement
• Lumbar disc herniation
• Herniations that need fusion surgeries: Fusion surgeries are the most common surgeries associated with spinal cord injuries. During a fusion surgery, rods and screws are placed in the spinal cord vertebrates to hold the back together and prevent any weakness in the spine. Those who have had fusion surgeries may need compensation for the surgery and any future treatment. 
• Whiplash: Whiplash is the most common neck injury that a victim of a car accident suffers. This usually occurs because of the instant impact of the car accident. The impact causes the neck to overextend. Whiplash may require months of therapy, sometimes even surgery.

What causes spinal cord injuries?

In the United States, nearly 40% of spinal cord injuries occur in vehicle accidents according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC). Car accidents are the most common causes, and almost all car accidents are preventable. Below are the most common causes forof spinal cord injuries:

• Car accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Bus accidents
• Sports accidents
• Construction accidents 
• Trucking accidents
• Work accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Slipping and falling down
• Tripping and falling down
• Violence
• Falls from high areas 
• Defective products
• Neurodegenerative diseases
• Infections that cause abscesses on the spine

Who is likely to suffer a spinal cord injury?

Although anybody has the potential risk of suffering a spinal cord injury, older adults and younger children are more likely to suffer spinal cord injuries following an accident since their bones are very vulnerable.

Categories of Spinal Cord Injuries

In the medical field, spinal cord injuries are classified by which part of the spine they affect, the symptoms they cause, and the extent of the damage to the function of the cord. The two main categories of spinal cord injuries are complete and incomplete spinal cord injuries. It is very important to hire a knowledgeable spinal cord injury attorney. Spinal cord injury attorneys should not only be knowledgeable about the laws in your specific state, but also about the different medical terms used when describing the spinal cord injury. For example, if your attorney fails to describe the spinal cord injuries actually and instead uses generic terms, you could potentially recover a smaller amount of damages.

• Complete injuries cause a total disruption to the function of the cord from the point where the injury occurred onward. These injuries create a total loss of function and sensation for different parts of the body.
• Incomplete injuries can include the loss of sensation and function, but may not always take away both. In some cases such as with Anterior Cord Syndrome, the body’s movement may be restricted, but is still able to maintain feeling.

Do I Need an Attorney for a Spinal Cord Injury?

Although you do not necessarily need an attorney when filing an insurance claim, or even filing a lawsuit, we recommend that something so important like a spinal cord injury be represented by someone who has the experience and legal knowledge.

If you have suffered an injury in California or Nevada, contact our spinal cord injury attorneys today for a free no risk consultation. During this consultation, we could determine what the medical issues would be, along with the potential damages you could receive.

Our skilled spinal cord injury attorneys also have access to several different types of experts that can be able to prove and explain the type of injuries you are suffering. This includes experts in the field of neurology, physical therapy, and chiropractors. These experts will be needed to testify in court and describe the damages that you have suffered.

What are Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injuries?

Symptoms of spinal cord injuries may not become obvious days, even weeks after an accident. During the time of the accident you are still in shock,  and may not feel all the injuries immediately.

With many different types of back and spinal cord injuries, the symptoms can vary wildly depending on how severe the damage is and where on the spine the trauma occurred.

Symptoms of mild spinal cord injury can include tingling, reduced coordination, muscle weakness, and pain. Swelling after the accident, spinal shock, and incomplete spinal cord injuries can lead to these types of symptoms.

Severe spinal cord injuries can result in symptoms such as a loss of sensation below the injury, trouble breathing, paralysis, loss of bladder & bowel control, and death. Victims who suffer a complete injury that occurs at the Cervical vertebrae toward the top of the spinal cord often require ventilator assistance to be able to breathe.

Injuries of the spine are also broken up into further classifications including:

• Triplegia – Loss of feeling in three limbs.
• Hemiplegia – Total paralysis that is restricted to one side of the body.
• Tetraplegia or Quadriplegia – Loss of sensation and movement in all four limbs. These injuries tend to occur when the spinal cord closer to the head/neck is completely damaged.

What Kind of Damages Could I Receive from a Spinal Cord Injury?

There are several different damages you could potentially receive from a spinal cord injury. Although it differs from person to person, the most common damages received from a spinal cord injury include:

• Property damage
• Psychological counseling
• Chiropractic services
• Medical equipment
• Medications
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Future lost wages
• Home care

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF SPINAL CORD INJURIES?

• Triplegia – Loss of feeling in three limbs.
• Hemiplegia – Total paralysis that is restricted to one side of the body.
• Tetraplegia or Quadriplegia – Loss of sensation and movement in all four limbs. These injuries tend to occur when the spinal cord closer to the head/neck is completely damaged.

What should I do after a spinal cord injury?

If you have suffered from a spinal cord injury, contact your medical provider immediately to determine the severity of the damages you have suffered. 

Even if you believe that you have not suffered any injuries, it is still important to seek medical care. You may have suffered a spinal cord injury and you may not have even realized it.