How Do Spinal Cord Injuries Occur?
Spinal cord injuries – even those that are considered relatively minor – are closely associated with chronic pain and serious losses in range of motion. If the spinal cord is severed or suffers serious trauma, the results are permanent paralysis, which requires a lifetime of medical care. While nearly any kind of accident can lead to a spinal cord injury, some are more likely to do so than others. If someone else’s negligence leaves you or someone you love with a spinal cord injury, an experienced Charleston spinal cord injury attorney is standing by to help.
Accidents that Are Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
The kinds of accidents that are most likely to be associated with the spinal cord include all the following:
- Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and other kinds of traffic crashes
- Slip and fall accidents and other forms of premises liability claims
- Boating accidents
- Accidents on construction sites and in industrial settings, which are workers’ compensation claims and are very similar to personal injury claims
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that traffic accidents and serious falls are the most common causes of spinal cord injuries throughout the United States.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries occur when any part of the spinal cord – including the nerves at the end – is damaged. An impact on the back or neck, such as those generated by traffic accidents and falls, often causes damage, and the health consequences can be immense.
Because the spinal cord handles the signals between the brain and the body and – thus – controls movement, spinal cord injuries can lead to permanent losses below the injury site in relation to all the following:
- Overall strength
- Feelings and sensations
- Bodily functions
Significant mental, psychological, emotional, and social consequences are also common after a spinal cord injury.
Assessing Your Losses
Accurately assessing your losses in the wake of a spinal cord injury that was caused by another person or entity’s negligence is critical to your claim and your ability to fully recover to the degree possible. The basic categories of loss covered in personal injury claims like yours include all the following:
- Medical costs, which may be ongoing and can include the need for assistance with the activities of daily living if the spinal cord injury results in paralysis
- Lost income, which can include serious losses related to the course your career takes and your overall earning potential
- Your physical and emotional pain and suffering, which can easily eclipse your other losses
Speak with an Experienced Charleston Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Today
The trusted Charleston spinal cord injury attorneys at The Law Office of Mark C. Tanenbaum, P.A., dedicate their imposing practice to protecting the legal rights of clients like you – in focused pursuit of compensation that covers your losses in their entirety. Your recovery is too important to leave to chance, so please don’t put off reaching out and contacting us online or calling 843-577-5100 for more information about what we can do to help you today.