Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis

Spinal cord injuries and paralysis are some of the most serious injuries that can be sustained, and they are common to traffic accidents, pool injuries, slip and falls, and any other type of accident that can apply force to the spine. Spinal cord injuries can lead to chronic pain and even permanent disability. In some cases, they can even leave victims with a permanent loss of control of bodily movement and loss of sensation in the affected area. If someone else’s negligence leaves you with a spinal cord injury or leaves you paralyzed, you have a long, difficult journey toward your fullest recovery ahead of you, and an experienced Redding, California, personal injury attorney can help.

Level of Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries are classified according to level and type. The level of your injury refers to where on the spine it occurs, and the type refers to the kind of physical limitations that ensue. The higher on the spinal cord that you are injured, the greater the physical damage. The vertebrae that make up your spine are grouped into three distinct areas:

• Cervical Nerves Are at the Top of Your Spine – Any injuries here have the potential to cause life-altering paralysis.
• Thoracic Vertebrae and Lumbar Nerves Make Up the Middle of Your Spine – This area of the spine controls your body’s stability and your ability to sit and stand while also providing support for your organs. Any injury here can be life-altering but isn’t typically associated with a permanent loss of mobility.
• Sacral Nerves Are at the Bottom of Your Spine – An injury here can have serious physical effects but is unlikely to cause paralysis.

Type of Spinal Cord Injury

The type of spinal cord injury, on the other hand, is classified as either incomplete or complete and depending upon your classification, the physical effects can vary greatly. The distinctions between incomplete and complete spinal cord injuries include:

• Incomplete Injuries – An incomplete injury does not damage the full width of the spinal cord, which means part of the spinal cord at that level will remain undamaged and will be capable of functioning normally. While victims of incomplete spinal cord injuries have some ability to move and feel below the injury site (on the spine), he or she can still experience serious physical limitations. The consequences of incomplete spinal cord injuries can vary considerably from individual to individual.
• Complete Injuries – A complete injury affects the entire width of the spine in that area, which means the victim has a permanent loss of both muscle control and sensation in the area of the body that correlates with the spinal cord injury.

Your Damages

All spinal cord injuries are serious. In fact, such an injury can alter the course of your life in an instant. Further, paralysis is closely associated with secondary complications. All told, the damages you incur in an accident that causes a spinal cord injury or paralysis are likely to be immense and often include:

• Medical Expenses – Medical expenses often begin with emergency care at the scene of the accident and continue on to include emergency transportation from the scene, surgery and follow-up care, treatment from doctors and specialists, physical therapy, prescription medications, adaptive physical devices, home adaptations, long-term care, and more.
• Lost Wages – A serious spinal cord injury or paralysis can keep you off the job for an extended period – if you are ever able to return. The associated loss can be immense, and you could experience a diminished earning potential into your future or even an altered career trajectory.
• Pain and Suffering – The physical and emotional pain and suffering caused by an accident that’s serious enough to leave you with a spinal cord injury – or paralyzed – is likely to be overwhelming. After all, someone else’s negligence caused your life to be irrevocably altered in the blink of an eye, and that is exceedingly difficult at the emotional level.

Consult with an Experienced Redding, California, Personal Injury Attorney Today

If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury or have been paralyzed as a result of someone else’s negligence, your damages are likely to feel overwhelming, but the dedicated personal injury attorneys at Maire & Deedon in Redding, California, have the experience, fortitude, and resources to aggressively advocate for the compensation you need to travel the path toward your most complete recovery.  Our formidable legal team is here to help, so please contact or call us at 530-246-6050 for more information today.