Many people have lived the consequences of a spinal cord injury and can tell you how their lives changed utterly, negatively affecting their quality of life. No one should suffer the consequences of severe damage caused by a negligent party.
There are many ways to get injured in this way. It could be a medical error, a transit accident, a slip-and-fall accident, or any other type of accident in which you receive a significant strike on your back.
If you or a loved one are living the consequences of somebody else's negligence actions, you should contact our Yonkers spinal cord injury lawyers. The Ward Law Group has a team of legal professionals ready to provide you with high-level representation.
Types of Spinal Injuries
Let's explore the different types of spinal cord injuries that a person can sustain:
- Cervical Spine Injuries
Located in the neck region, cervical spine injuries can have significant consequences due to their proximity to the brain. These injuries are often considered the most severe, as they can result in partial or complete paralysis.
Symptoms may include loss of sensation, muscle weakness, and, in severe cases, difficulty breathing. Treatment typically involves stabilization through bracing or surgery. While some recovery may occur, it's important to note that complete healing is rare.
- Thoracic Spine Injuries
Located in the neck region, cervical spine injuries can have significant consequences due to their proximity to the brain. These injuries are often considered the most severe, as they can result in partial or complete paralysis.
Symptoms are almost the same as Cervical spinal injuries. They are typically treated the same way; the only difference is the location of the pain. As we know, injuries on the spinal cord can lead to long-term consequences; It may have some recovery. However, the possibility of completely recovering from these injuries is not common.
- Lumbar Spine Injuries
The lumbar spine, located in the lower back, bears a significant portion of the body's weight. Injuries in this region can result in loss of function in the legs and hips. Symptoms may encompass pain, muscle weakness, and possible changes in bowel or bladder habits.
Treatment involves stabilization techniques and, in some cases, surgical intervention. While recovery is possible, it may be limited, and full restoration of function is uncommon.
- Complete and Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can be classified as complete or incomplete. A complete injury results in total loss of function and sensation below the injury site. In contrast, an incomplete injury allows some degree of function or sensation to remain.
The prognosis for recovery largely depends on the extent of the damage and the specific location of the injury along the spinal cord.
- Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a condition characterized by the narrowing of the spinal canal, often due to aging or degenerative changes. This can lead to spinal cord or nerve compression, resulting in pain, weakness, and numbness.
Treatment options may include medication, physical therapy, and, in severe cases, surgery. While symptoms can be managed, a complete cure is not always achievable.
- Herniated Discs
A herniated disc occurs when the soft inner portion of a spinal disc protrudes through the tough outer layer. This can pressure nearby nerves, causing pain, tingling, and muscle weakness.
Treatment may involve rest, physical therapy, and, in some cases, surgery. While many individuals experience relief with conservative measures, complete recovery may not always be possible.
In any of these scenarios, seeking the expertise of a skilled Yonkers spinal cord injury attorney is essential. They can provide invaluable support in navigating the legal complexities surrounding personal injury cases, ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve for your unique situation.
Common Causes of Spinal Injuries
There are a variety of accidents that can cause a victim to suffer serious consequences from a spinal cord injury. For instance, you can be a victim of a traumatic transit accident such as a car accident.
Drivers must always respect transit laws and drive defensively to avoid crashing their vehicles into obstacles or against other vehicles. Other causes of transit accidents can be included here.
Drunk driving is against the law because it is extremely dangerous for the driver and people who share the public streets with these negligent people. It only takes 0.08 BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) to break the law and impair the driver's reflexes.
Another neglecting action while driving that can cause a spinal cord injury is driving recklessly, suddenly changing lanes, tailgating, and speeding, among other actions that can cause a high-speed wreck that can lead to a spinal cord injury.
We have also seen people sustaining these types of injuries while falling from heights while they were working or they were walking over a place with hazardous conditions.
A lousy landing when you fall, whether by a slip or trip or if you were working at heights, can be disastrous. You must seek medical attention right away after that happens.
Any incident does not happen just because there must be a reason, and most of the time, it tends to be that someone else was not doing or acting how they were supposed to.
Spinal cord injuries can be sustained in sports, too. Many contact sports, such as football, rugby, and hockey, can result in spinal cord injuries, especially if players experience hard impacts, tackles, or collisions.
Typical Symptoms and Diagnosis
1. Pain and Discomfort
One of the most immediate and noticeable signs of a spinal cord injury is pain and discomfort. This can manifest in various ways, ranging from sharp, shooting pains to a persistent dull ache.
For example, individuals may experience intense pain at the injury site or radiating pain that extends along the affected nerve pathways. This pain can be debilitating, significantly impacting the individual's quality of life.
2. Numbness or Tingling Sensations
Numbness or tingling sensations often accompany a spinal cord injury. This occurs due to the interruption of nerve signals between the brain and the affected part of the body.
For instance, if the injury occurs in the lower back, an individual may experience numbness or tingling in their legs or feet. These sensations can indicate nerve damage and are vital symptoms to report to medical professionals.
3. Loss of Mobility
A spinal cord injury can lead to varying degrees of loss of mobility, depending on the location and severity of the injury. For example, injuries in the cervical spine region can result in paralysis of both upper and lower extremities (quadriplegia). In comparison, injuries lower in the spine may lead to paralysis of the lower extremities (paraplegia).
Loss of mobility profoundly affects an individual's independence and necessitates significant adjustments to daily life.
4. Respiratory Issues
Injuries higher up the spinal cord, particularly in the cervical region, can potentially impact respiratory function. This can lead to breathing difficulties and require mechanical ventilators or other assistive devices.
It's imperative to monitor and address any respiratory issues promptly, as they can significantly affect the overall health and well-being of the individual.
5. Diagnostic Tests (MRI, X-Ray, CT scans)
Accurate diagnosis is fundamental in understanding the extent of a spinal cord injury. Advanced diagnostic tests, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), X-rays, and Computed Tomography (CT) scans, play a pivotal role in this process.
These imaging techniques allow healthcare professionals to visualize the spine, identifying fractures, dislocations, or damage to the spinal cord or surrounding tissues. They provide critical information that guides treatment decisions and serves as crucial evidence in legal proceedings.
Legal Rights and Compensation
Victims of negligence or accident caused by a negligent party must stand up and claim their rights. We know how debilitating these injuries can be. Therefore, we encourage injured people to seek help from a personal injury attorney to help them navigate the process, investigate the accident, gather all the evidence, and negotiate fair compensation on their behalf.
Victims of spinal cord injuries have the right to seek compensation for their medical expenses as a direct result of the injury. This encompasses hospitalization, surgeries, rehabilitation, medications, assistive devices, and ongoing medical care.
A skilled Yonkers spinal injury lawyer will meticulously gather and present evidence to establish the extent of these expenses, ensuring that victims receive the full compensation they are entitled to.
Many spinal cord injury victims face significant disruptions in their professional lives. They may experience a temporary or permanent loss of wages due to their inability to work.
In more severe cases, the injury may hinder their future earning capacity. A proficient lawyer will work diligently to quantify these losses, factoring in variables such as the victim's age, occupation, and potential for career advancement.
The physical and emotional pain and suffering endured by victims of spinal cord injuries are substantial. This includes the pain after the accident and the ongoing challenges they face in their daily lives.
Compensation for pain and suffering is essential to seeking justice and holding negligent parties accountable.
Rehabilitation is a critical component of a spinal cord injury victim's recovery journey. It encompasses physical therapy, occupational therapy, adaptive equipment, and modifications to living spaces.
Victims can seek compensation for important services to help them become as functional and independent as possible.
The emotional toll of a spinal cord injury is profound. Victims may experience anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and other psychological challenges. Seeking compensation for emotional distress acknowledges the significant impact that these injuries have on a person's mental well-being.
A skilled spinal cord injury attorney in Yonkers will work to ensure that these intangible but very real losses are recognized and compensated.
How Is The Value Of My Claim Calculated?
An experienced Yonkers spinal cord injury lawyer can calculate your compensation by examining your expenses since the injury.
For instance, all the medical bills, transportation costs, and medication that your doctor sent are proof of the monetary expenses you have been paying or that have been increasing in debt under your name. That would not be there if you hadn't been involved in an accident.
These severe injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, of course, bring other types of damages that are different from economic damages. These other damages are difficult to calculate because no bills support how much you have spent.
Non-economic harm includes pain, loss of bodily function, loss of companionship, and loss of enjoyment of life. They are tough to put a price tag on.
An experienced and respected lawyer with vast knowledge of personal injury can estimate how the injury will affect you and provide an amount of compensation that will support you for the rest of your life.
Can I file a personal injury lawsuit If I'm Partially At Fault?
Yes, you can. In New York, comparative negligence decides how much fault each person has in personal injury cases. It helps determine who is responsible for the accident or incident that caused the injuries.
Under this rule, each party involved in the accident is assigned a percentage of fault based on their contribution to the incident. Even if someone is mostly to blame, they can still ask for money. However, the amount they receive will be reduced depending on their level of responsibility.
For example, if a plaintiff is found 20% at fault for an accident and awarded $100,000, they would ultimately receive $80,000 (after deducting their 20% share of fault).
Yonkers Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers
The Ward Law Group always encourages people to seek legal help when injured by a negligent party. Many people fear losing money because of legal matters, but that is not true in these cases.
If someone hurts you, it's their fault. You should get the money you deserve as compensation. Let us help you win your battle.
We've assisted many people considering quitting and allowing others to escape without accountability. We bring justice to you and your family. Don't hesitate to contact us for a free consultation of your case at 855-DOLOR-55.