Did you know that over 17,800 people in the United States are diagnosed with a spinal cord injury every year? The leading cause of spinal cord injuries is automobile accidents followed by falls. Spinal cord injuries can be incredibly frightening and life-altering for you and your loved ones.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with a spinal cord injury, it’s important to learn as much as you can about the condition and how to manage it best. It’s common to experience a lengthy hospital stay and spend some time at a rehab center after. You’ll likely worry about mounting medical bills and loss of work.
In this blog post, we’ll outline the basics of spinal cord injuries, including causes and what legal options you may have. We hope that this information will help you feel empowered and informed as you navigate your way through this challenging time.
What is a Spinal Cord Injury?
The spinal cord is a tube-like structure that begins at the base of the brain and continues down almost to the bottom of the spine. It contains the body’s nerve fibers that connect throughout the body, from the head to the feet. An injury to the spinal cord means that there is some type of damage to the bundle of nerves, typically resulting from trauma such as an accident or even an assault.
How Does a Spinal Injury Impact the Body?
Any damage to your spinal cord is a significant injury that can result in permanent changes to all bodily functions below the injury. Common symptoms of a spinal cord injury are changes in strength and sensation, including a complete lack of sensation if the nerves have severed. The nerves carry signals from the brain to different parts of your body, which means that an injury causing damage to them disrupts those signals.
A spinal cord injury could mean that you have full or partial paralysis of one or more limbs, which means that you can no longer move or feel them. It’s possible that following a spinal cord injury, you experience intense pain and a stinging sensation below the area affected. You can also have a loss of bowel, bladder, and sexual function that could be permanent.
How Could a Spinal Injury Impact My Life?
A spinal cord injury can affect all aspects of your life. You might initially find yourself in the hospital and later a rehabilitation center until you regain enough function to return home. Some people cannot return home from the rehabilitation center due to their injuries. How much impact the injury has on your life depends on if it is a complete or incomplete spinal cord injury.
Regardless of the severity of your injuries, you’ll likely have significant continuing medical costs. If you were working at the time of the accident, you’ll experience missed wages and may not be able to return to work. You also may no longer be able to drive or care for yourself. Some individuals require lifetime care in a rehabilitation center or die due to their injuries.
What are the Causes of a Spinal Cord Injury?
Motor vehicle accidents cause almost 40% of all spinal cord injuries in the United States. Other common causes are falls, violence, and sports injuries. If you are in a car accident and receive a spinal cord injury, your insurance will help to cover your medical costs. However, you’ll likely exceed your policy limits quickly unless you have a comprehensive policy. The costs of a lengthy hospital stay and all the therapies after add up quickly. If you’re injured in a fall or by violence, how do you plan to cover your treatment costs? Insurance will likely cover some but not all of your care.
When Should You Consider a California Personal Injury Attorney After an Injury?
You should contact an attorney immediately following a life-changing accident. Hiring a personal injury attorney can help you receive treatment and ensure you’re covered by insurance. Hiring an attorney is especially important if you’re injured due to another’s negligence. Don’t deny yourself the compensation you deserve.
Reach Out to an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney for Help
At Hann Law Firm, we take a personal approach from the start. Listening to our clients is at the heart of our success in the courtroom. When you work with us, we’ll address your specific challenges, prepare diligently for the best possible outcome, and create a personalized approach to help achieve your goals.
While other firms see a case number and a bottom line, we see each client as a human being who deserves to be heard. We know your case is important to you, and we’ll take it just as personally. You and your case matter to us.
Contact us for your free consultation and get quality, compassionate legal help today.
