What do you know about about spinal cord injury?
Spinal Cord Injury due to trauma is a devastating diagnosis for innocent victims and their families. Since 2005, I’ve served as a lawyer for over 1000 clients involving spinal cord injury after a car accident. You don’t need just a lawyer with experience, but a lawyer who understands the full magnitude of harm caused by spine injuries. The spinal cord is the primary medium of transmitting information in the whole body. A spinal cord injury may result in mild to severe pain, depending on the type of injury. A spinal cord injury lawyer may help you claim monetary compensation after being injured in a car accident crash.
The spinal cord comprises a collection of nerves spread from the bottom of the skull down to the hips. The electrical impulses carried by the bundle of nerves to other parts of the body are referred to as neutrons. When you sense pain after an accident, it is often a result of the spinal cord injury receiving messages from the brain.
Surrounded by vertebrae bones that work towards safeguarding the backbone, the spinal cord is highly sensitive and is made up of nerves that transmit neurons to the brain and other parts of the body. The neurons take control of the muscles and alert them when necessary.
Because the spinal cord is highly sensitive, any spinal cord injury could stop the transmission of information for a moment or longer. How long depends on the severity of the spinal cord injury. Anything– vehicle accidents, falls, wrestling that went wrong, disease – can cause spinal cord injury. When you suffered a spinal cord injury you need trusted California personal injury lawyer to secure your future. You should not have to bear the burdens alone if you suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of someone else’s negligence.
What is complete and incomplete spine cord injury?
A spinal cord injury can dramatically change a victim’s life. More damage is caused to the spine if the injury is higher up your spinal column. The injuries could be categorized as “complete” or “incomplete”, depending on the feeling and motion below the injury site.
An incomplete injury implies that the superhighway remains partly in place. There is still a possibility of data reaching the brain. You could make a toe wiggle or feel a sensation in a portion of your arm. On the other hand, a full injury implies you feel nothing below the injury site. On rare occasions, surgery can be used to alleviate nervous tension in the spine. Nonetheless, the findings differ extensively, and the healing process varies for each individual.
Some extent of the injury could lead to sensation loss in some parts of the body, difficulty with movement, and failure to control the bowels or the bladder—inability to take charge of your sexual roles, pain or stinging feeling, and seizures.
Historically, a severe injury to the spinal cord often led to the victims’ death as physicians could not handle the other health issues that showed up after a spinal injury.
The situation changed after World War II, as it is now possible for patients that have incomplete injuries to recover due to the continual research of pharmaceutical and mobility aid systems.
Measures have been implemented to help spinal injury patients return to a healthy life. These procedures include epidural stimulation, rehabilitation exercise, and electrical stimulation. However, it is the responsibility of those who surround patients with spinal cord injuries to help them return to a healthy life. If you experienced a spinal cord injury, contact our lawyer for a free consultation.
What is spinal cord injury levels, function, and symptoms
Spinal injury levels refer to the specific segment of the spinal cord that has been affected, and they are typically categorized by the corresponding vertebrae. For example, a cervical spinal injury occurs in the neck region and may result in quadriplegia, affecting the arms, hands, trunk, and legs. On the other hand, a lumbar spinal injury, lower down the spine, can lead to paraplegia, impacting the trunk and lower limbs. The level of the injury often determines the extent of paralysis and functional limitations experienced by the individual.
With seventeen years of experience as a spinal cord injury lawyer, I learned that spine cord injury symptoms may be very distinct, depending on where the injury is located:
Cervical injuries located higher up the spine (C1-C4 vertebrae) are considered the most severe because:
- There is a need for patients to access 24/7 care.
- Paralysis of the arm, hand, leg, and trunk can (cause quadriplegia).
- The patient may need assistance to breathe.
- The ability of the patient to talk or cough may be impaired.
- The patient may experience difficulty controlling their bowels or guts.
Cervical injuries located lower on the spine (C5-C8 vertebrae)
Cervical spinal cord injuries affect the head and neck region above the shoulders.
- The nervous system, at that point, is responsible for controlling hands and arms.
- There may be a tingling feeling and pain.
- Partial or complete paralysis in the torso, limbs, or hands.
- Patients can breathe and talk without help, although significant effort will be required.
- Little or no control over the bladder or bowels.
Thoracic injuries (T1-T5)
- Upper neck muscles, those in the middle of the back, and the abdominal area.
- The arms and hands of the patient remain normal.
- The trunk and legs are influenced by injuries, leading to paraplegia.
Thoracic injuries (T6-T12)
- The upper part of the body still functions ordinarily, while the lower body experiences some dysfunction, usually paraplegia.
- Decreased bowel or fluid control, or none at all.
Lumbar injuries (L1-L5)
- The lower limbs of the patient may not function properly.
- The patient may experience difficulty controlling the bowels or the bladder.
Sacral injuries (S1-S5)
- The lower limbs may be impaired in their functions.
- Patients do not have control of the bladder or bowels.
- It is likely for patients to walk.
If you have sustained a spinal cord injury due to an accident or attack, our spinal cord lawyer can help by assessing the viability of your claim and managing the claim.
What happens after a spinal cord injury?
Our California spinal cord injury lawyer is dedicated to helping victims recover. It is hard to manage a spinal cord injury, but you should also look out for other health issues that may arise.
A range of things could happen; muscle atrophy (deconditioning of the muscles), dysfunction of the sexual system, and circulation or breathing trouble. You may need to wear clothing that compresses your limbs and facilitates blood flow. Furthermore, a spinal injury can cause emotional trauma, and you may experience situational depression. Having a caregiver in health circumstances like this may be vital. Even if, for instance, you “just” have a sacral injury, you will still find it difficult to adjust to your new life. If you suffered a spinal cord injury due to another person’s negligence, call our spinal cord injury attorney for help.
What can a spinal cord injury lawyer do for me?
A spinal cord injury lawyer can provide invaluable legal assistance to injured persons by navigating the complex legal issues associated with spinal cord injuries. The following are ten ways a spinal cord injury lawyer can help you:
- Legal expertise: A spinal cord injury lawyer specializes in this area of law and has in-depth knowledge of the legal complexities involved in spinal cord injuries.
- Evaluation of your case: A spinal cord injury lawyer can assess your spinal cord injury to determine if you have a valid legal claim. This includes investigating who is liable for your spinal injury and compensation.
- Gathering evidence: A spinal cord injury lawyer can help collect and preserve evidence such as spinal injury medical records, accident reports, witness statements, and expert opinions to support your case.
- Negotiating with insurance companies: A spinal cord injury lawyer can handle negotiations with insurance companies to ensure you receive fair compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitation, and other costs related to your spinal injury.
- Identifying responsible parties: A spinal cord injury lawyer can identify all potentially liable parties, including individuals, businesses, or government entities, and hold them accountable for your spine injury.
- Filing lawsuits: A spinal cord injury lawyer can file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf if necessary.
- Expert witnesses: Spinal cord injury cases often require expert testimony to establish liability and quantify damages. A spinal cord injury lawyer can engage medical experts, vocational specialists, and other professionals to support your case.
- Settlement negotiations: A spinal cord injury lawyer can negotiate settlements with the liable parties and their insurance companies to secure the maximum compensation for your spinal cord injury.
- Trial representation: If a fair settlement cannot be reached, your spinal cord injury lawyer will represent you in court, presenting your injury to a jury.
- Advocating for your rights: A spinal cord injury lawyer is your advocate throughout the legal process, helping you to understand your rights, providing guidance, and protecting your interests.
Additionally, our spinal cord injury lawyer often have experience with the emotional and practical challenges faced by spinal cord injury victims, providing not just legal support but also emotional support during a difficult time. I can help you access the resources you need for rehabilitation, ongoing care, and improving your quality of life post-injury.
