Spinal Cord Injury Facts
Spinal cord injuries are one of the most dangerous types of injury that an accident victim can experience. One of the reasons that spinal cord injuries are so debilitating is because the spinal column houses the nerve pathways that facilitate communication with the brain. Consequently, a serious spinal cord injury can result in total or partial paralysis and completely change your life permanently. A spinal cord injury can also result in one or more of your vertebrae being severed or broken.
There are many different circumstances in which spinal cord injuries can occur. If you have sustained a spinal cord injury in a serious accident, you may be able to assert a personal injury or workers’ compensation claim.
The Clearwater spinal cord injury lawyers at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA can meet with you to review the details of your accident and how it took place. Our team of attorneys will be able to determine whether or not you have a viable case and may be able to represent you during settlement negotiations and litigation.
Spinal Cord Injuries Have Multiple Causes
Spinal cord injuries often occur when accident victims least expect them. Some of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries include:
- Motor vehicle accidents (including motorcycle accidents)
- Boating accidents
- Slip and falls
- Work-related accidents
When motor vehicle drivers, motorcyclists, and boat operators operate their vehicles or watercraft in a reckless or careless manner – or while under the influence of drugs or alcohol – they can cause serious accidents. A serious crash can eject an occupant from the motor vehicle or boat and cause the occupant to strike the ground or another hard surface. This can result in serious damage to the spinal column or individual vertebrae.
Similarly, when a premises owner or manager fails to keep the premises clean and safe for visitors, slip and fall accidents can occur. These accidents can cause the accident victim to make a sudden impact with the ground, potentially sustaining a serious back or spinal cord injury.
Finally, when construction sites, factories, and other job sites are not properly maintained, serious accidents can occur on the job that result in spinal cord injuries.
Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury
After any accident that involves a significant blow to the back, you should immediately seek a physician for a checkup to ensure that you didn’t suffer any damage to the spinal cord. Some spinal cord injuries are not immediately apparent and can take some time to develop. Some spinal cord injuries are not caused by direct damage to the spinal cord but instead develop over time because of damage to the spinal structure or surrounding tissue that can slowly put pressure on the spinal cord or cause shearing as a person’s condition degrades. It is imperative that someone that has suffered a blow to the back keep an eye out for the following symptoms of a spinal cord injury.
- Abnormally positioned or twisted back or neck
- Impaired breathing after injury
- Extreme back pain or pressure in your neck, head or back
- Weakness, incoordination or paralysis in any part of your body
- Strange numbness, tingling or loss of sensation in your hands, fingers, feet or toes
- Bladder or bowel control issues
- Trouble maintaining balance or walking
If you have suffered spinal cord injury in Florida then don’t hesitate to CONTACT our skilled spinal cord injury lawyers today at (727-451-6900) OR our online contact form.
Spinal Cord Injuries Can Have Serious and Permanent Consequences
One of the most significant dangers surrounding spinal cord injuries is that these injuries can cause permanent – and even lifelong – impairments. These impairments are not just limited to physical impairments. Rather, a serious spinal cord injury may also result in cognitive impairments and mental deficiencies. Some of the most common impairments associated with spinal cord injuries include:
- Full or partial-body paralysis
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Recurring muscle spasms
- Joint or nerve pain
- Decreased quality or enjoyment of life
- Lost sense of touch (among other senses)
- Impaired bodily functioning
- Different Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Some of the most common spinal cord injuries include full or partial-body paralysis. Even paralysis can come in several forms. The form of the paralysis usually depends upon where the spine is most severely damaged in the accident.
Hemiplegia refers to total paralysis on one side of the accident victim’s body. This type of paralysis often results from brain damage. Paraplegia, on the other hand, refers to paralysis of the accident victim’s lower extremities. This condition usually occurs after a serious injury to the thoracic or lumbar spine – or to the pelvis. Quadriplegia (or tetraplegia) is a type of paralysis which can affect both arms and both legs and usually results from a serious neck injury.
Spinal cord injuries can also result in mental deficiencies and cognitive impairments. Those impairments can include an inability to concentrate, memory problems, or in the worst cases, a complete inability to move or function.
Spinal Cord Injuries Are Expensive
Generally speaking, the treatment and medical care associated with spinal cord injuries are very expensive. The present and future costs associated with a spinal cord injury can depend upon the severity of the injury, as well as the geographical area where the injury occurred. Some of the biggest and most expensive costs associated with spinal cord injuries include hospital and emergency room bills, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, physical therapy and rehabilitation costs, future medical care and treatment, and extended care costs, such as in a nursing home or assisted living facility.
Others Can Be Held Accountable for Your Spinal Cord Injury
If you have sustained a spinal cord injury as a result of someone else’s carelessness or negligence, you may be able to file a claim or lawsuit against that individual or entity. For example, if you sustained a permanent spinal cord injury in a head-on motor vehicle collision that resulted from a DUI, you may be able to file a civil lawsuit directly against the driver and the owner of the at-fault vehicle.
Similarly, if you fell on someone else’s property and sustained a spinal cord injury, you may be able to take legal action against the premises owner. In order to pursue monetary recovery, you must be able to show that the premises owner failed to keep the premises in a safe condition and that the owner had notice of the defective condition but failed to remedy it in time.
Call a Clearwater, Florida Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today to Discuss Your Case
If you have suffered a serious spinal cord injury due to someone else’s carelessness or negligence, you should not delay in seeking legal representation in your case. Insurance companies have experienced adjusters and attorneys working for them, and you should have a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer on your side as well. Consider speaking to an experienced personal injury attorney. The skilled attorneys of Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA can provide you with the expert opinions and resources you will need to secure a settlement that can cover the damages that you have suffered. Do not attempt to handle a personal injury claim on your own despite what the insurance company may tell you. One mistake and you can see the value of your settlement plummet or have your claim to compensation be rejected altogether.
The Clearwater spinal cord injury attorneys at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA may be able to negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance adjuster on your behalf, litigate your case, and help you to recover fair compensation for your spinal injury. To schedule a free consultation and case evaluation with a Clearwater spinal cord injury lawyer, please call us today at (727) 451-6900, or contact us online. Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA – Clearwater Office 800 North Belcher Road Clearwater, FL 33756 727-451-6900
