The spine is part of the body’s nervous system. It’s the avenue through which the brain transmits signals to the entire body. These signals must be sent properly for the body to do almost all of its activities, including walking, using fine motor skills, moving the limbs, and more. An injury to the spinal cord can represent a permanent change to your quality of life, altering your physical abilities forever.
Damage to the spinal cord is the cause of many debilitating medical conditions. It also can bring an extreme financial burden on yourself and your family. Back injuries cause many victims to need adaptive devices. Rehabilitation is almost always necessary, and some victims need supervised care – sometimes for their entire lives. If you or your loved one have experienced a spinal injury, a trusted back injury attorney in Los Angeles can help.
CHOOSE AN INJURY ATTORNEY THAT PUTS CLIENTS FIRST
When you get hurt because of someone else’s negligence, you have every right to take legal action. At Grey Law we always encourage spine injury victims to pursue legal representation to help build their case. We know precisely what spine injury claims entail and how to increase your chances of settling. For over 35 years we’ve been committed to getting our clients through their legalities on a contingency fee basis.
COMMON SPINAL CORD INJURIES AND EFFECTS
Compression and contusion are the most common spinal cord injuries. Compression is caused by excessive pressure on the spinal cord, whereas contusion is a bruising of the spine. Lacerations are typically the most severe spinal cord injuries. However, any of these types of traumas can lead to severe, debilitating health consequences.
In spinal cord injuries, paralysis often begins at a localized point and affects everything below it. You might experience the following:
- Paralysis or loss of function from the waist down
- Loss of sensation
- Difficulty walking
- Loss of reflexes including bowel control
- Chronic pain
- Sexual dysfunction
In the long term, a spinal cord injury is a blow to a victim’s immune system. Many who experience these injuries are more susceptible to infection the rest of their lives.
All of these consequences can mean a decrease in one’s quality of life. It’s no surprise this often results in emotional and mental illness, particularly in cases of paralysis. Loneliness, anger, denial, hopelessness, irritability, and depression are all typical. Since many are unable to work afterward and rehabilitation is slow, many victims find it hard to escape these feelings. These emotional disturbances all disrupt and slow the healing process.
SPINAL CORD INJURY TREATMENT AFTER AN ACCIDENT
Any spinal cord injury is damaging, and nearly half a million people in the U.S. have experienced or live with one. Injuries can impact sensory and motor functions and prevent people from keeping active during recovery. Symptoms depend on the severity of impact following an accident. However, diagnostic tests will offer a medical evaluation, as spinal cord injuries can cause long-term neurological problems.
Diagnosis examinations include:
- Blood tests
- X-ray
- CAT or CT scan
- MRI
Treatment can be costly, but pursuing legal representation to file a claim will increase your chances of compensation; read on to learn more.
HOW TO FILE A SPINAL CORD INJURY CLAIM
If you have sustained a spinal cord injury due to negligence or carelessness, you may be able to file a spinal cord injury claim. At Grey Law, our team will help you file a spinal cord injury claim to help you recover damages for your injuries. We will handle your case from start to finish, including dealing with the responsible party, insurance companies, recovering evidence, and much more.
Additionally, if you have suffered a spinal cord injury as the result of an accident that occurred at work, you may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim, which a Los Angeles work injury attorney can assist you with.
DETERMINING YOUR VALUE IN A SPINAL CORD INJURY CLAIM
Before pursuing your case, a trusted lawyer well-versed in severe accident-related injuries should determine how much it is worth. The value of a case gets calculated by the sum of money required to help the client sufficiently restore to their previous living conditions. Medical bills are the leading reason. Hospital costs and prescription costs have increased over the years – even more so for victims without insurance. Additional factors that will add-on to your claim include:
- Past and future
- Past and future lost earnings
- Permanent disfigurement and disability
- Pain and suffering
- The diminished quality of life
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SPINAL CORD INJURIES
- How do spinal cord injuries happen?
The most common circumstances where a spinal injury might happen are:- A car accident
- Slip and fall incident
- Medical malpractice
- Sports injuries
- Construction accident
- Are spine injuries serious?
Yes – it can be. When the spine gets damaged, so do the surrounding nerves, which transmit signals to the brain. It can obstruct your ability to move, as it prevents your body from communicating effectively. - Do symptoms appear right away?
Sometimes the warning signs aren’t as apparent after an accident. It varies per person. Sometimes it may be days or weeks before you see any indication of back pain or back damage. That is a critical period, and you should notify your doctor if you notice any changes. - What are the most common symptoms and changes of spinal cord injuries?
- Back pain, or lower pressure of the spine, head, neck, or back.
- Losing function in your body (paralysis)
- Any new feelings of numbness or tingling
- Trouble walking, staying balanced, and breathing
- No control of bladder or bowel movements
- Stalled breathing
- Muscle spasms
- Inability to clear throat
- Impaired sexual health
- How can paralysis impact you after getting diagnosed with a spinal cord injury?
Severe spine damage can result in paralysis. At that time, the brain can’t receive transmissions from the spine to send across the body. Two examples are:- Injuries located higher on the spine might cause paralysis from the neck to arms, torso, and legs (quadriplegia)
- Damage near the cervical area, above the waist, can cause paralysis from the torso to the legs (paraplegia).
Each case is different per client, but both require great medical care and treatment to recover.
HIRE A SPINE INJURY LAWYER FOR YOUR BEST CHANCE AT COMPENSATION
Immediate, quality treatment is essential for recovery from a spinal cord injury to be successful. Most people also need long-term rehabilitation and mental health services after a spinal injury. The typical family in Los Angeles can be crushed under the bills for this rehabilitation since these injuries often result in loss of work.
If you or a loved one experienced a spinal cord injury due to another’s actions or negligence, you might be entitled to financial compensation. In the face of high medical bills, you need all the financial help you can get.
Grey Law’s Los Angeles personal injury lawyers know how to help. We can make sure your insurance company pays not only for the current medical necessities but all medical care relating to the injury for the rest of your life. We can also help you gain wages lost starting from the date of your injury, and further compensation may be available to pay for your pain and suffering.
We prepare every case intending to get maximum compensation. There’s no reason to wait to get help. Contact us today, and we’ll help you gain the financial compensation you deserve.
Personal injury attorneys with