Wright & Gray is a trusted New Orleans personal injury firm with over 20 years of experience handling personal injury cases. This experience has taught us how to provide each case with the care and attention it deserves. After a spinal cord injury resulting from another person’s negligence or recklessness, we understand that victims are concerned not just about paying bills, but also about their future and whether they will be able to do the things they love ever again. This is why we take such care to do what we can for our clients and help them feel as whole as possible again. Consider scheduling an appointment with a spinal cord injury attorney at 888-912-4944 or visit our website to set up your free consultation.
What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?
A spinal injury is damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the edge of the spinal canal, according to the Mayo Clinic. These injuries typically result in numbness, tingling, or total loss of sensation. Usually, spinal cord injuries result from a serious blow or trauma to the neck or back. However, keep in mind that a spinal cord injury is not the same as a neck or back injury. A neck or back injury can include damage to muscle tissue or other bones, but if it does not involve the spinal cord or surrounding nerves, then it is not a spinal cord injury.
Symptoms of a spinal cord injury are generally one or more of these:
- Difficulty in movement
- Numbness or loss of sensation
- Inability to feel cold or heat
- Lost sexual function
- Spasms
- Pain or stinging sensations in your spine
- Difficulty in breathing or coughing
The term “spinal cord injury” is rather broad and encompasses several different types of injuries and outcomes.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are generally separated into two categories: complete and incomplete.
Complete
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a complete spinal cord injury causes full paralysis below the injury on both sides of the body. Complete spinal cord injuries result in quadriplegia or paraplegia. Quadriplegia is the paralysis from the neck down, including all four limbs, while paraplegia is paralysis of the lower half of the body.
Incomplete
An incomplete spinal injury means that there is still some functionality below the injury. The nerve pathways are not completely broken, so the brain and the extremities can usually still communicate. In other words, a victim does not typically become completely paralyzed, but some functionality or sensations may be limited.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
At Wright & Gray, we have unfortunately seen spinal cord injuries preventing many victims from living their lives the way they want to. As discussed earlier, spinal cord injuries tend to originate from some sort of trauma to the back or neck. There are countless causes of spinal cord injuries, but as spinal cord injury attorneys, below are some of the most common causes we have seen.
Car Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents are some of the most common sources of spinal injuries. Given the high speed of the vehicles and their heavy weight, an impact like a car accident can cause the type of blunt trauma to the spinal cord that could lead to an injury. This blow to the spinal cord can cause the vertebrae (bones in the spine), to break or become dislodged, which can cause the surrounding nerve tissues to rupture.
Slips and Falls
Like car accidents, falls are another common source of spinal injuries. When a victim falls on their tailbone, back, or neck, it can lead to a slipped disc, a compressed disc, or nerve damage. In some cases, this might just be a temporary tingling sensation that goes away over time, but in other cases, this nerve damage can be permanent. Most slips and falls are unavoidable accidents, but sometimes they could have been avoided if the property owner had taken a little more care in managing their property. If you suffered injuries in a slip and fall, consider discussing your case with a spinal cord injury attorney to see if you may be eligible to receive compensation.
Medical Malpractice
Unfortunately, it is also somewhat common for spinal injuries to occur during surgery. Because the nerves around the spinal cord are so sensitive, it is easy for the surgeon to injure a nerve, when he has to operate near the spinal cord. Even if this complication was an accident, this mistake sometimes causes the patient’s condition to deteriorate more than would have been before the surgery. In these cases, a spinal cord injury attorney can represent you to prove that the surgeon’s mistake fell below a reasonable standard of care.
Sports and Violent Crimes
Often, spinal cord injuries are caused by intentional acts by another person. Whether these are done in good faith, such as during a football or hockey game, or whether they are done in bad faith, during an assault or other violent crime, the at-fault person may be responsible for your injuries.
What Can a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Do for You?
If you are in the aftermath of a spinal injury, you may feel helpless and unsure of your next steps. The physical pain and discomfort of a spinal cord injury may cause you constant suffering. While it is impossible for a lawsuit to restore everything to the way it was before your injury, a spinal cord injury attorney may be able to help you feel whole again by fighting for justice on your behalf. From identifying the proper defendants to filing the paperwork, collecting evidence, and representing you in court and in negotiations, let a trusted Louisiana attorney handle the legal claims while you rest, rehabilitate, and work on getting your life back to normal.
Considering Calling Wright & Gray to Discuss Your Case
Wright & Gray have been practicing personal injury law in New Orleans, Louisiana for over 20 years. During this time, we have helped countless clients find the road to recovery, overcoming mountains of medical bills, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and the pain and suffering that comes with a serious injury. We understand the stress our clients are under, which is why we take care to know the value of our clients’ cases and take on insurance companies and at-fault defendants to get our clients what they are entitled to. Consider contacting us by phone at 888-912-4944 or filling out our online form to set up your free consultation.