A spinal cord injury is one of the most devastating injuries a person can suffer. Even less severe injuries can lead to long-term and possibly lifelong health problems. These injuries are particularly tragic when they are caused by someone else and could have been avoided.
However, the law offers protection for victims of negligence through a personal injury claim. Victims may be entitled to compensation to help manage the medical, financial and psychological damages from their injury. The skilled catastrophic injury attorneys at O'Connor, Acciani & Levy know how to construct winning cases that have all of the evidence needed to prove that negligence occurred and caused the victim's injury.
Examples of Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is such a vital part of the body that even minor damage can cause painful injuries that limit mobility and affect your ability to perform everyday activities.
Common spinal cord injuries include:
- Anterior Cord Syndrome
- Central Cord Syndrome
- Posterior Cord Syndrome
- Brown-Sequard Syndrome
- Individual nerve trauma
- Spinal contusion
- Paraplegia
- Quadriplegia
- Herniated discs
- Fractures
- Sprains
- Strains
- Vertebral subluxation
It is unlikely that a serious spine injury will heal on its own. In many cases of spinal damage, the victim will suffer some form of permanent disability. However, it is possible in rare cases for nerves to re-grow and allow a person to regain lost mobility. An experienced Cincinnati attorney could help with communicating the full extent of one's spinal cord injury and seeking compensation for setbacks.
Symptoms of Back Trauma
A spine injury can cause a variety of symptoms, including back or chest pain, shortness of breath, numbness, and bowel problems.
Seek immediate medical attention if you are experiencing any of the following conditions:
- Intense pain or pressure in the back, head or neck
- Weakness or loss of sensation in any area of the body
- Difficulty walking
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of consciousness
- Tingling or numbness in the extremities
- Loss of bladder and/or bowel control
If you are not experiencing symptoms but are concerned that you suffered a spinal cord injury, you should seek treatment anyway. Delayed onset of symptoms, such as numbness and paralysis, is known to happen as the area around the injury continues swelling or bleeding. Additionally, any delay in obtaining treatment could increase your risk of developing permanent symptoms or disabilities.
After getting treatment for a spinal cord injury, contact our Cincinnati lawyers to discuss what happened. You may be able to pursue compensation through a spinal cord injury lawsuit against the negligent individuals or entities that caused your injury.
Causes of Spinal Damage
Spinal cord injuries can be caused by a sudden traumatic event or accident, or from repetitive activities that gradually cause spinal trauma. Some of the common causes of these injuries include:
- Car accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Sports injuries
- Birth injuries
- Surgical malpractice
- On-the-job injuries
- Violence
- Defective products
If you or a loved one has suffered spinal trauma in an auto collision, slip and fall, or other accident, you may be entitled to compensation, including:
- Past, present and future medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Physical therapy
Our experienced Cincinnati team could help you pursue this compensation and recover from your spinal cord damage.
Spine Injuries Caused by Negligence
Negligence often plays a role in many types of accidents or dangerous situations. However, a spinal injury lawyer must establish four things to prove that negligence occurred:
- The accused owed you a duty of care to act carefully and in accordance with relevant laws.
- The accused breached his or her duty of care.
- You suffered some type of injury because of this situation.
- The accused party's breach of duty of care directly caused your injury.
For example, if a car accident resulted in you suffering a spinal cord injury, another driver could be found negligent for actions like running a red light, speeding or driving under the influence of alcohol. In a product liability claim for a spinal cord injury, a manufacturer could be held liable if they knew or should have known that a product was defective or unsafe for consumers. Because cases can be varied, a Cincinnati resident should contact a lawyer with the depth of knowledge and extensive experience required to build a strong spinal cord injury claim for the circumstances.
Reach Out to a Cincinnati Spinal Cord Injury Attorney for Help
The aftermath of an accident that causes a spinal cord injury can be agonizing. The consequences can be hard to grasp both psychologically and financially. However, our Cincinnati spinal cord injury lawyers know the law and have the experience, resources, and determination to pursue justice and maximum recovery.
If you believe that your spinal cord injury was the result of someone else's reckless or intentional actions, you may have grounds to file a personal injury claim. Our legal team will carefully review your claim to find out if you have a case. If you do, we will focus on investigating your accident and pursuing compensation while you recover from your injuries. Call today to get started.
