Accidents That Commonly Cause Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is the bundle of nerves that allow the brain and the various parts of the body to communicate with one another. When the spinal cord becomes damaged due to injury, this communication can be interrupted, potentially resulting in the loss of feeling or mobility below the point of injury. As a result, spinal cord injuries are often referred to as “catastrophic injuries,” and have the potential to leave victims with serious and life-long disabilities and medical problems.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that there are anywhere from 12,000 to 20,000 new cases of spinal cord injuries (SCIs) per year.[1] In addition, the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center estimates that there were approximately 237,000 people living with SCI in the United States as of 2013.[2] Fortunately for many victims, an attorney may be able to help them recover significant financial compensation from the person or party that was responsible for their injuries. The best way to determine whether you have a claim is to discuss your case with an experienced Florida personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
What is a Spinal Cord Injury?
Spinal cord injuries occur when trauma to the spinal column causes damage or places pressure on the spinal cord itself. The spinal column in made up of 31 vertebrae that are stacked vertically along the back. The spinal cord travels down the back through the spinal column, so any damage to the vertebrae could potentially cause an SCI resulting in neurological problems. Spinal cord injuries can be divided into one of two main categories: complete and incomplete. Information about each type can be found below.
- Complete spinal cord injuries – complete SCIs result in total loss of function below the site of the injury.
- Incomplete spinal cord injuries – an incomplete SCI leaves the victim with some feeling or movement below the site of injury. Generally, incomplete SCIs have a much better chance of improvement over time than complete SCIs.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can occur in a variety of ways, but some are more common than others. Among the kinds of accidents that have the potential to result in SCIs include:
- Car accidents
- Slip and falls
- Medical malpractice
- Sports injuries
- Bicycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Swimming pool accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Violent assaults
- Aviation accidents
- Construction site accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Boating accidents
- Falls downstairs
- Falls from heights
After a spinal cord injury occurs, it is extremely important for victims to discuss their circumstances with an attorney. Personal injury claims are governed by a strict statute of limitations that is set by state law, which means that victims have a limited amount of time to file a claim. Your attorney will conduct a thorough analysis of the facts of your case and let you know whether or not you can expect to recover from your injuries.
Spinal Cord Injury Damages
Dealing with the effects of a spinal cord injury can be difficult. The damages caused by these injuries can not only be debilitating in the physical sense but can also end up causing a variety of other issues in terms of finance, mental health, and quality of life in general. Spinal cord injury damages will typically consist of either economic or non-economic varieties. The difference between these two types of damages is fairly simple where economic damages will have a clear dollar value that can be assigned to them whereas non-economic damages will not have a tangible dollar value determined through something like a bill or calculated loss like with economic damages. Common damages involved in spinal cord injury lawsuits will include:
- lost wages
- pain and suffering
- medical bills
- loss of companionship
- disability benefits
- mental anguish
Call a Clearwater personal injury law firm today to schedule a free consultation
Anyone who has sustained a spinal cord injury in a preventable accident should discuss their situation with an experienced lawyer as soon as possible. Among the kinds of losses that may be compensable in a spinal injury lawsuit are past and future medical expenses, lost income, loss of quality of life, and physical and emotional pain and suffering. In cases where a spinal cord injury victim is unable to work, the recovery obtained through a settlement or award is often the only source of financial security available to victims and their families. As a result, it is extremely important for victims to make sure they get the full value of their claim.
The Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA is a Clearwater, Florida personal injury law firm that is committed to helping people injured be the negligence of others recover for their losses. To schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys, call our office today at (727) 451-6900 or send us an email through our online contact form available here.
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/scifacts.html
[2] https://www.nscisc.uab.edu/PublicDocuments/fact_figures_docs/Facts%202013.pdf
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA
800 North Belcher Road
Clearwater, FL 33756
727-451-6900
https://dolman.fuelm.dev/legal-services/spinal-cord-injury-attorneys
