Sustaining an injury to the spine can change the course of your life in an instant. Even if you are ultimately able to recover from the harm done to you, the short-term financial and physical impacts of spinal cord damage can be debilitating in multiple respects. Permanent spine injuries will lead to difficult personal and professional losses.
If you suffered this kind of injury because another person acted irresponsibly around you, an experienced catastrophic injury attorney could help you hold them financially accountable for the compensation you need to regain financial stability. With guidance from a Southaven spinal cord injury lawyer like David E. Gordon, you could have a better shot at legal success.
Causes and Effects of Spinal Cord Damage
Although the vertebrae of the spine provide some degree of protection, the spinal cord is susceptible to permanent damage from direct external impacts. The nerve clusters that make up this central part of the nervous system do not heal over time like most other body parts do. As a result, a jarring car crash, an impact during an athletic event, a mistake by a healthcare provider, or a sudden slip and fall could have permanent repercussions if it leads to spinal cord trauma.
The severity of this kind of injury depends a lot on how “complete” the damage is. An “incomplete” spinal cord injury entails only in bruising or slight tearing of the spinal cord, while a “complete” injury means the spinal cord is completely severed, leading to a total loss of function below the point of impact.
Complete injuries to the lower part of the spinal cord may lead to paraplegia of the lower limbs, while injuries near the neck may lead to quadriplegia in the entire body. No matter what specific type of injury occurs, a Southaven spinal trauma lawyer can help a client take full advantage of their legal rights and opportunities for financial recovery.
What Compensation Might Be Recoverable?
Because spinal cord trauma almost always has debilitating consequences that will last for the rest of a person’s life, comprehensive recovery in spinal cord injury claims must account for both past and future losses. For example, in addition to bills for emergency medical treatment immediately after an accident, a lawsuit or settlement demand might also seek restitution for future rehabilitative care and medical equipment like wheelchairs, as well as home and vehicle modifications to allow for increased mobility.
Other losses that may be recoverable depending on the circumstances include loss of capacity to earn income, loss of ability to participate in hobbies, loss of consortium with a spouse, and loss of enjoyment of life. A local spinal cord injury lawyer can go into more detail about compensable losses during a free consultation.
Consider Working with a Southaven Spinal Cord Injury Attorney
Any accident that results in spine trauma is a serious matter, so you should make sure you understand all your legal options before trying to move on with your life. If you can trace your injury back to someone else’s negligence, you may have grounds to hold that person financially responsible for the losses you will now have to overcome, including those that will not occur until years in the future.
A Southaven spinal cord injury lawyer can answer your questions and offer guidance about your legal options. Call today to set up a meeting with the Law Office of David E. Gordon.
