Spinal Cord Injury Litigation...

The spinal cord is the bundle of nerves that transmits information between the brain and the rest of the body. When a spinal cord injury occurs, this system is damaged, often resulting in severe physical impairment. Spinal cord injury usually begins with a sudden, traumatic blow to the spine that fractures or dislocates vertebrae. The impact causes the vertebrae to fracture or compress, which in turn crushes the extensive nerve cells that carry signals along the spinal cord between the brain and the body. Specific effects of a spinal cord injury on the body usually depend on the location and severity of the injury. An injury to the spinal cord can damage a small number of nerve cells, called axons, or almost all of them. Spinal cord injuries are called either “complete” or “incomplete”. The victim of a complete injury totally lacks sensory and motor function below the injury. An incomplete spinal cord injury victim retains some sensory motor function below the injury.

Tragically, many brain and spinal cord injures are irreversible. Motor vehicle accidents cause the majority of spinal cord injuries, followed by sports mishaps, falls, birth trauma,violence and disease. In addition to causing physical and emotional pain and problems, dealing with a spinal cord injury can also quickly  drain a family’s finances because medical care for spinal cord injuries is costly and long-term. Many people who live with spinal cord injury have secondary complications including:

• pain or sensitivity to stimuli,
• muscle spasms,
  
• heart problems,
  
• bladder and bowel dysfunction,
  
• pressure sores,
  
• respiratory complications,
  
• urinary tract infections,
  
• constipation,
  
• sexual dysfunction
  
• spasticity, and
  
• scoliosis.

Quadriplegia and paraplegia are medical terms that indicate the type of paralysis suffered by those with a spinal cord injury. Paralysis, or loss of movement and sensation, can be complete or incomplete with a spinal cord injury. The complete/incomplete classification indicates how much movement and feeling is left in the affected areas after initial recovery. Less than one percent of those hospitalized with a spinal cord injury completely recover. The major of those with spinal cord injuries have incomplete quadriplegia, followed by complete paraplegia, complete quadriplegia, and incomplete paraplegia.

Caring for those who have survived a spinal cord injury is often a life long job. Treating a patient with a spinal cord injury often involves medical professionals dedicated to every aspect of a patient’s well being. The injury can cause more than physical harm; it can impact the victims’ family, finances and future. Monetary compensation can help spinal cord injury victims and their families meet the challenges of the future with less worry about medical bills, employment and rehabilitation.

If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury because, it is important to meet with a lawyer who is experienced in assisting clients with this type of injury, and is skilled in handling these sensitive cases.

TIMOTHY C. NIES, ESQ. 1098 N.W. Boca Raton Boulevard Boca Raton, FL 33432 Tel: 561-208-5585 Toll-free: 1-877-733-5878 E-mail: Click here.