- Spinal cord injuries result from damage to the spinal nerves and vertebrae
- Hundreds of thousands of people suffer spinal cord injuries from personal injury accidents every year
- Car accidents, slip and fall, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, and medical errors can cause spinal cord injuries
- Spinal cord injuries can result in paralysis
- Victims of spinal cord injuries can file claims with at-fault parties to pursue compensation for damages
Those who experience personal injury accidents, such as car accidents, slip and falls, and medical malpractice incidents, can suffer a range of severe injuries. These can include traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), broken bones, and shoulder injuries. One of the most severe types of personal injury is a spinal cord injury.
During a personal injury accident, a person’s spine can sustain blunt-force trauma that damages spinal nerves and causes an injury. Victims of spinal cord injuries can experience intense pain, difficulty standing and walking, loss of sensation, and trouble breathing. Personal injury victims can file claims with at-fault parties to pursue compensation for spinal cord damages.
Personal Injury Accidents Can Cause Spinal Cord Injuries
People can suffer personal injury accidents when one party commits a negligent or reckless action. They can suffer harm from a motor vehicle, property owner, healthcare professional, and many more. The harm caused by a personal injury accident can cause them to experience severe injuries, such as a spinal cord injury.
During the impact of a personal injury accident, blunt-force trauma can damage the spinal cord or the bones surrounding it (the vertebrae). Intense physical impact from a direct blow to the back can result in damage to the spinal nerves or a fracture, dislocation, or compression of a vertebra. This can cause a spinal cord injury that can result in long-term pain and suffering.
Anywhere from 250,000 to 500,000 people suffer spinal cord injuries every year, experiencing symptoms that can dramatically alter their lives. These symptoms can include loss of bladder control, reduced mobility, physical pain, trouble breathing, loss of feeling in the hands and feet, and muscle spasms.
Spinal Cord Injuries Caused by Car Accidents
One of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries is motor vehicle accidents, including truck, bus, motorcycle, and car accidents. During a car accident, a victim can sustain significant physical trauma that can affect the body, damaging the spinal nerves and vertebra to cause a spinal cord injury.
While direct impact with a heavy object can cause a spinal cord injury, so can the whiplash caused by a car accident. This is the violent shaking of the body caused by a car collision. As your body shakes during a car accident impact, your spinal cord can sustain damage that wears down the spinal nerves and vertebra, leading to a severe spinal cord injury.
The following are some causes of car accidents that result in spinal cord injuries:
- Reckless driving
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Drunk driving
- Drowsy driving
- Road rage
- Running red lights
- Adverse weather conditions
- Poor road maintenance
- Mistakes at intersections
Slip and Fall Accidents Can Result in Spinal Cord Injuries
Slip and fall accidents can also result in spinal cord injuries. When someone falls because of a walking hazard like a wet floor, they can fall directly back onto their spinal cord. The spinal nerves and vertebrae can sustain significant damage depending on how hard the floor is and how high they fell from.
Some common causes of slip and fall accidents include missing steps, parking lot potholes, loose rugs, and cables stretching across the floor. After a slip and fall accident, a victim may experience significant pain in their back and spinal cord. They may have suffered a spinal cord injury and should see a healthcare professional to diagnose the injury.
Can Bicyclists and Pedestrians Sustain Spinal Cord Injuries From Impacts With Vehicles?
Bicyclists and pedestrians can also suffer spinal cord injuries from accidents. Pedestrian and bicycle accidents ordinarily involve reckless drivers who make mistakes that can cause accidents.
Drivers who do not observe right-of-way and run through intersections when pedestrians and bicyclists are allowed to go through the crosswalk can crash into them. Pedestrians and cyclists can experience direct blunt-force trauma, experiencing direct blows that can cause spinal cord injuries from a large motor vehicle, heavy object, or hard ground.
Medical or Surgical Errors Can Cause Spinal Cord Injuries
People can also suffer spinal cord injuries from medical or surgical errors. In some cases, people can put their health in the hands of healthcare professionals. They may require treatment or surgery to heal an issue with their back.
A doctor, surgeon, or other healthcare professional can make a surgical or medical error that can damage the spinal nerves or vertebrae. Operating on the wrong body part or making a harmful error during surgery can cause a spinal cord injury the doctor could be liable for in a medical malpractice claim.
Contact The Russo Firm for Help With Your Spinal Cord Injury
At The Russo Firm, our personal injury lawyers can use their decades of experience and vast expertise to help you recover compensation for spinal cord damages. We understand the pain caused by the at-fault party’s negligence and wish to help you hold them accountable.
Our personal injury attorneys understand the personal injury claim process and can help negotiate a settlement with an insurance company trying to deny, delay, or devalue your claim. Contact us for a free spinal cord injury consultation at (561) 270-0913 or leave a message on our online contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Cord Injuries
Can Spinal Cord Injuries Cause Paralysis?
Spinal cord injuries that occur lower down the spine can affect the lower body. If the lower spinal cord sustains enough damage, a personal injury victim can suffer paralysis. Personal injury victims can lose the functioning of their lower body parts immediately, or paralysis can develop over time. Negligent parties can be held liable for causing spinal cord injuries and paralysis.
What Damages Can You Pursue for a Spinal Cord Injury?
Victims of spinal cord injuries can suffer damages or losses associated with their finances or mental health. Economic damages are those with a financial value attached to them. Non-economic damages are intangible losses that affect a victim’s quality of life.
The following are some damages you could pursue after suffering a spinal cord injury:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
Should You Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer After Sustaining a Spinal Cord Injury?
Hiring a personal injury lawyer is vital after suffering a spinal cord injury. They can use their experience to advise you on pursuing compensation for spinal cord damages from the at-fault party. They can help you calculate damages, determine the liable party, collect evidence, file paperwork, and negotiate a settlement.
