Spinal cord injuries can change your life in an instant. The potential for permanent impairment is high, and the type of impairment, usually paralysis, is severe. However, you do not have to face your recovery alone.
If you were harmed in an accident caused by another’s negligence, consult an Alexandria spinal cord injury lawyer to determine whether you are entitled to any damages. Our skilled attorneys at Laborde Earles can assess the circumstances of the accident, evaluate the validity of your claims, and explain the legal process.
Common Causes of Spinal Damage
According to the American College of Surgeons, every year, there are about 17,700 new spinal cord injuries in the United States.
Approximately 80% of these cases affect males and adults between 16 and 30; those over 65 are most at risk. Vehicle crashes and falls account for about 70% of the cases.
Motor vehicle accidents are one of the more common causes of spinal injuries. However, people can also suffer spinal damage from:
- Falls
- Gunshot accidents
- Sports-related injuries
- Medical malpractice
- Diving accidents
Boating accidents are another all-too-common cause of spinal cord damage. If you’ve sustained a spinal cord injury on a boat, a boat accident lawyer from Alexandria can help you seek compensation from the at-fault party.
Identifying the liable party for spinal cord damage can be incredibly difficult. Our law firm understands the laws impacting your case and how best to navigate the legal process to get you the most favorable results possible.
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The Different Types of Spinal Cord Damage
According to a National Institute of Health (NIH) study, a spinal cord injury occurs when there is damage to the vertebrae, ligaments, or disc material in the vertebral canal. The condition can cause temporary or permanent paralysis and a loss of sensation and muscle control, making it a catastrophic injury.
Victims may require physiological and psychological support for full rehabilitation. Common injuries may include:
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
An incomplete spinal cord injury can happen when the spinal cord is only partially severed or compressed. In this situation, the brain still communicates with the parts of the body, albeit limited.
This condition can result in the partial loss of movement or feeling.
Complete Spinal Cord Injury
A complete spinal cord injury can happen when the spinal cord is fully severed or compressed. As a result, the brain cannot communicate with parts of the body, which results in an overall loss of movement and feeling.
After your accident, you should seek medical treatment for preventative care to avoid additional pain later. Given the potential severity of the condition, getting advice from a personal injury attorney in Alexandria is important.
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The Effects of Spinal Cord Trauma
These catastrophic injuries can turn your life upside down instantly. In addition, depending on the injury’s severity and location, you may lose touch sensitivity and the ability to move the affected area voluntarily.
A spinal cord injury resulting from an accident may permanently impair your ability to work, live independently, and enjoy the activities you did in the past.
In addition, you may require continual medical care, constant therapy, and round-the-clock personal care, all of which come at a great expense.
Given the devastating nature of the condition, recovering compensation in a personal injury lawsuit could be essential to your future.
Fortunately, a Rapides Parish personal injury lawyer can advocate for your interests before insurance companies and other third parties.
Paralysis
The spinal cord comprises soft tissue protected by the spinal column’s hard bones. When the spinal column has broken, compressed, or crushed vertebrae, some or all motor and sensory functions may be lost. As a result, spinal cord damage can often result in full or partial paralysis.
When the damage occurs higher up on the spinal cord or near the neck, there is the potential for permanent paralysis of the entire body or quadriplegia. If the damage occurs at a lower point, paralysis may be permanent but limited to the lower part of the body, referred to as paraplegia.
In addition to paralysis, other symptoms may include pain, tingling, numbness, and loss of control over bodily functions.
Physical Dysfunctions
Typically, trauma further down the spinal column will result in paraplegia, impacting the legs, pelvic organs, and all or part of the trunk. Damage higher up the spinal cord can lead to quadriplegia, impacting the arms, hands, and trunk.
Lack of feeling and mobility are not the only problems spinal cord damage victims face. Bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction are often present, as are blood clots and bed sores.
A victim’s heart and lungs are impacted in the worst cases, requiring a pacemaker and mechanical ventilator.
Social Impact
These life-altering conditions can take their toll on you and your family. As a spinal cord trauma victim, you may be unable to perform the most basic life tasks. These tasks can include eating, drinking, washing, and clothing themselves without the assistance of family members or around-the-clock home care.
You may further experience a reduced quality of life. The sudden need to rely on others for the simplest and most intimate functions can feel degrading and may trigger depression and anxiety.
Economical Impact
Additionally, spinal cord injuries can be extremely expensive. As a result, victims are often unable to work when they need income the most.
On top of everyday expenses, medical costs can be high. Hospital bills, rehabilitation, medical care, and home modifications come at a steep price. The financial burden can be crushing, and it comes at a time when you deserve to focus on your health.
A personal injury attorney can help calculate the full economic impact of your losses and negotiate a fair settlement with insurance companies.
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How Long You Have to File a Personal Injury Claim
Louisiana Civil Code § 3492 states that you have one year to submit an insurance claim for your spinal cord injury. Our spinal cord injury lawyers in Alexandria, LA, encourage you to file your claim as soon as possible to avoid delays or issues with your case.
However, even though Louisiana’s statute of limitations only gives you a year to file, you may have more or less time to file your claim. For example, you may have longer to file if we have trouble contacting the negligent parties.
A lawyer from our law firm can tell you exactly how much time you have when you meet with us for a free consultation.
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Determining Liability in Alexandria Cases
Most claims 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.
- The injured party suffered financial and non-financial damages.
You may seek compensation against any potentially negligent parties if sufficient evidence exists to prove negligence. A personal injury attorney in Alexandria, LA, can help you identify the at-fault party and prove negligence.
Compensation You Can Recover After You Suffer Spinal Cord Damage
After you suffer spinal cord trauma due to someone else’s negligence, you have a legal right to recover economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are economic losses you’ve experienced that have a dollar value attached to them, while non-economic damages account for the long-term impacts of your injuries.
Our spinal cord injury attorneys in Alexandria, LA, are ready to help you recover the damages you qualify for. We can help you recover damages such as:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of earning capacity
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of income
- Property damage
- Vehicle repairs
The damages you can recover depend on the severity of your injuries and the liable parties’ level of negligence.
Contact Us for a Free Case Consultation Today
If you suffered a spinal cord injury, talk with the legal team at Laborde Earles. Our law firm will represent your best interests before insurance adjusters if you wish to file a personal injury lawsuit or wrongful death claim against the responsible parties. One of our spinal cord injury lawyers in Alexandria, LA, can assist you with your case.
Although no compensation can ever return you to your previous life, it can ease the financial burdens you may be experiencing during this time. Contact us for a legal consultation to learn the potential benefits of filing a claim.
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