SPINAL CORD INJURY LAWYER

How Do Spinal cord Injuries Happen?

Spinal cord injuries usually happen as a result of trauma that can damage nerve roots. Vertebrae may be fractured or dislocated, and this trauma may cause bone fragments, disc material, or ligaments to bruise or tear tissue in the spinal cord. The spinal cord typically isn’t severed through injuries, but injuries damage axons, which are extensions of nerve cells along the spinal cord that carry messages from the brain to the rest of the body. Depending on the extent of the injury, some people will be able to make close to a full recovery, while others suffer tetraplegia/quadriplegia, monoplegia, paraplegia, or another form of permanent paralysis.

Being able to anticipate the scope of the injury accurately and the prognosis for recovery are key elements to a personal injury case. Each spinal cord injury is unique, and in order to maximize compensation, medical details are needed, in addition to information about the accident itself and who is responsible for it.

What Types of Spinal cord Injuries Can Occur?

Spinal cord injuries are either complete or incomplete. Complete injuries result in total loss of feeling and movement from the point of damage along the spinal cord and below. Incomplete injuries leave partial sensation and mobility of the injured area.

There are four parts of the spinal cord, and the location of the injury determines the affected parts of the body. The higher up on the spinal cord the injury, the more severe the potential impairments can become. When the location of the injury is determined, maps and other tools can help determine affected limbs and organs of the body. The four spinal cord regions are:

Cervical, or the top of the spine: An injury in this area affects the arms, legs, and all areas below the damaged area, including the ability to breathe, if the injury is high enough.

Thoracic, or middle of the spine: Damage to this area affects the legs and areas below the injury.

Lumbar, or lower-middle: Injuries here also affect the legs and areas below the injury to a more extensive amount.

Sacral, or bottom of the spine: Damage here affects the legs and is more likely to cause bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction.

Paralysis affects limbs and internal organs, causing breathing and incontinence issues in some spinal cord injury victims.

There are four categories of paralysis:

• Monoplegia affects one limb.
• Hemiplegia affects one side of the body.
• Paraplegia affects the legs, pelvic organs, and portions of the trunk.
• Quadriplegia or tetraplegia affects the arms, legs, and torso.

Following an injury accident, an accident victim may be faced with a painful surgery, such as spinal fusion, laminectomy, another type of spinal surgery or other painful procedures that involve long recovery periods and ongoing medical treatment, such as physical therapy and occupational therapy.

What are Potential Causes of Spinal cord Injuries?

Spinal cord injury cases require proof of fault and details about the extent of the injury. Personal injury attorneys need to be well-versed in handling a variety of accident types. They investigate the accident and determine responsible parties to assess damages and compensation. The top three causes of spinal cord injuries are motor vehicle accidents, falls, and acts of violence. Sports injuries, medical malpractice, infections and diseases, worksite injuries, physical labor, and genetic issues are among other causes of spinal cord injuries that are less common.

The wide variety of causes of spinal cord injuries add to the complexity of the personal injury cases that result. Causes are key to determining responsible parties.

Why are Spinal cord injury Cases More Complex?

Spinal cord injuries are catastrophic injuries that could have multiple defendants and complex medical implications. Lifetime costs of paralysis can reach millions of dollars, depending on the severity. Attorneys assess anticipated lifetime costs and pursue compensation for many areas, including:

• Medical bills and related care.
• Assistive devices and technology for daily living tasks.
• Lost wages and earning potential.
• Lost benefits and unpaid expenses.
• Pain and loss of quality of life.
• Emotional suffering, including anxiety, stress, and psychological issues.
• Spinal cord injury cases become more complicated if negligence or intentional or unintentional harm caused the injury.

How Does the Severity of the Injury Affect Losses?

Determining the location of the injury on the spinal cord and gauging the severity of the damage will show the prognosis of recovery and anticipated needs of the injury victim. The higher the injury is on the spinal cord, the more limbs and organs can be adversely affected.

Knowing the extent of injuries as soon as possible after the accident helps attorneys determine appropriate settlements to compensate for future medical and support needs. Whether a spinal cord injury is complete or incomplete, knowing the prognosis for recovery or partial recovery from an injury is key to determining the extent of losses from an accident. Such injuries affect mobility, sensation, and control of bodily functions.

Why Work with Lem Garcia Law?

While spinal cord injury victims focus their energy on getting better, Lem Garcia Law attorneys and staff focus on getting injured parties what they deserve. The Lem Garcia Law promise is that the process is simple, easy, and worry-free. No matter what the case involves or its size, Lem Garcia Law is committed to getting clients the best results.

Spinal cord injuries are extremely emotional and change the lives of the injured as well as the lives of their families. Injury victims need an attorney who will skillfully navigate the complexities of the case and reach a fair settlement based on multiple factors. The personal injury attorneys at Lem Garcia Law ensure clients have a clear understanding of their rights and what they’re entitled to receive to compensate for their injuries. Personal injury attorneys can look beyond emotions and work to get their clients the best possible outcome.

Lem Garcia Law covers personal injury cases, including accidents involving cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, ride-sharing, slip and fall, defective products, police abuse, and work injuries. Contact Lem Garcia Law for a free consultation.

Talk to a Lawyer for Free

If you are suffering because of a spinal cord injury you have the right to hold the negligent party responsible to the fullest extent of your injuries. For a free review of your case, contact the team at Lem Garcia Law today.

CALL (626) 777-2424 OR TEXT (626) 252-2168.