Spinal cord injuries often are among the most catastrophic injuries that individuals can suffer. The potential for permanent impairment is high and the type of impairment, which is usually paralysis, is very severe. If you suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident caused by another’s negligence, you may want to consult an Alexandria spinal cord injury lawyer to determine whether you are entitled to any damages.
A skilled catastrophic injury attorney can assess the circumstances that led to your injuries, evaluate the validity of any claims that you may have, and explain the claims process to you. When you need information and answers to important questions, getting legal advice may be beneficial.
Common Causes of Injuries
The spinal cord is made up of soft tissue protected by the hard bones of the spinal column. When the spinal column is injured, whether it involves broken, compressed, or crushed vertebrae, the loss of some or all motor and sensory function may occur. As a result, spinal cord injuries often result in full or partial paralysis.
When the injury occurs higher up on the spinal cord or near the neck, there is the potential for the permanent paralysis of the entire body or quadriplegia. If the injury occurs at a lower point on the spinal cord, paralysis still may be permanent but limited to the lower part of the body, which is referred to as paraplegia. In addition to paralysis, some conditions that may result from these types of injuries can include pain, tingling, numbness, and loss of control over bodily functions.
Motor vehicle accidents are one of the more common causes of spinal cord injuries. However, they also can occur during a fall, as the result of a gunshot wound, sports-related injuries, and other types of accidents.
For a free legal consultation with a spinal cord injury lawyer serving Alexandria, call (318) 333-3476
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
An incomplete spinal cord injury occurs when the spinal cord is only partially severed or compressed. In this situation, the brain still has communication with the parts of the body, albeit it is limited. This can result in the partial loss of movement or feeling.
On the other hand, a complete spinal cord injury occurs when the spinal cord is fully severed or compressed. The brain has no ability to communicate with parts of the body, which results in the total loss of movement and feeling. Given the potential severity of spinal cord injuries, getting advice from an Alexandria spinal cord injury lawyer may be important.
Alexandria Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Near Me (318) 333-3476
Determining Liability in Alexandria Cases
Most personal injury claims arising from spinal cord injuries are based on negligence. This is a legal standard in which individuals fail to exercise the appropriate level of care that reasonably protects others from harm. The law measures negligence according to how a reasonable person would act in the same or similar situation.
Proving negligence requires evidence in support of various elements. More specifically, there are four separate elements to a negligence claim:
- The defendant had a duty to act in a reasonably safe manner
- They breached this duty of care
- The breach of the duty of care directly led to harm to others
- Others suffered injuries as a result
If sufficient evidence exists to prove negligence, injury victims may be able to pursue a claim for damages against any potentially negligent parties. A spinal cord injury lawyer in Alexandria can help injury victims prove negligence.
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Physical Impacts of Spinal Cord Injuries
Every year, there are about 17,700 new spinal cord injuries in the United States. Approximately 80 percent of these cases affect males, and adults between 16 and 30 years of age, as well as those over 65, are most at risk. Together, vehicle crashes and falls account for about 70% of spinal cord injuries.
These injuries can turn a victim’s life upside down in an instant. Depending on both the severity and location of the injury, a victim may lose some or all feeling and the ability to voluntarily move the affected area. Typically, injuries occurring further down the spinal column will result in paraplegia, impacting the legs, pelvic organs, and all or part of the trunk. Injuries higher up the spinal cord can lead to quadriplegia, which also impacts the arms, hands, and the rest of the trunk.
Lack of feeling and mobility are not the only problems that spinal cord injury victims face. Bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction are often present, as are blood clots and bed sores. In the worst cases, a victim’s heart and lungs are impacted, requiring a pacemaker and mechanical ventilator.
Given the devastating nature of these injuries, recovering compensation in a spinal cord injury lawsuit could be essential to a victim’s future. Fortunately, a Rapides Parish spinal cord injury attorney is available to advocate for a victim’s interests.
Other Impacts of Spinal Cord Injuries
These life-altering injuries can take their toll on victims and their families. Spinal cord injury victims may be left unable to perform the most basic life tasks, such as eating, drinking, washing, and clothing themselves without the assistance of family members or around-the-clock home care. The sudden need to rely on others for the simplest, as well as most intimate, functions can feel degrading and may trigger depression and anxiety.
Additionally, spinal cord injuries can be extremely expensive. Victims are often unable to work, whether temporarily or permanently, at a time when they income the most. On top of everyday expenses, injury-related costs can be exorbitant. Hospital bills, rehabilitation, nursing care, and home modifications come at a steep price. The financial burden can be crushing, and it comes at a time when victims deserve to focus on their health.
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Speaking with an Alexandria Spinal Cord Injury Attorney About a Claim
A spinal cord injury resulting from an accident may permanently impair your ability to work, live independently, and enjoy the activities that you did in the past. You may require continual medical treatment, constant therapy, and round-the-clock personal care, all of which comes at a great expense. In this situation, you may want to talk with an Alexandria spinal cord injury lawyer.
Although no amount of compensation can never return you to your previous life, it can ease some of the financial burden that you may be experiencing during this time. Call today to learn the potential benefits of filing a claim.
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