Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Understanding a Spinal Cord Injury

The spinal cord and spinal column vertebrae extend from the base of your skull to your lower back. The spine has a variety of nerves that are responsible for body movements and sensations. Most spinal cord injuries normally begin with trauma, which dislocates or fractures the vertebrae.

Common causes of spinal cord injury include:

• Auto Accidents: The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) estimates that car and truck accidents account for 38% of the annual spinal cord injuries.
• Slip & Fall and Trip & Fall Accidents: These are the second most common cause of spinal cord injuries as they account for 30.5% of the annual spine injuries. Older adults are more susceptible to spine injuries from slip and fall & trip and fall accidents.
• Motorcycle Accidents: The absence of external protection (e.g., such as the frame of a car) in a motorcycle implies that even minor accidents can be deadly or lead to spinal cord injuries.
• Other Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries:
  • Medical malpractice
  • Sports injuries
  • Swimming pool accidents
  • Recreational activities, such as horseback riding
  • Product defects
  • Acts of violence

Short-Term and Long-Term SCI Injuries

Most SCI victims lose the ability to lead a normal life after the accident. This is extremely distressing, especially for a person who is no longer able to work and take care of themselves. These factors may result in health conditions that can lead to more systemic complications of a spinal cord injury, such as:

• Chronic pain
• Partial or full paralysis
• Inability to control the bowel movements or bladder
• Susceptibility to respiratory infections and illnesses
• Difficulties in regulating blood pressure and body temperature
• Impairment or loss of sexual function
• Pressure injuries, such as bed sores
• Osteoporosis and loss of bone density
• Depression

If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, call our spinal cord injury lawyers for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Treatment and Expenses Associated with SCI Care

Medical care is expensive. When you are involved in a sudden accident and suffer a spinal cord injury, the cost of treatment is a major concern. Fortunately, if the accident was caused by a negligent party, you can hold them liable. Some of the treatment costs for spinal cord injuries include:

• Emergency Care: When a person sustains an SCI, immediate care is imperative in order to prevent further injury. During the emergency care, doctors will diagnose whether your spine has been injured and assess the severity and extent of the damage.
• Hospitalization: In most cases, SCI victims are required to be admitted to a hospital in order to keep them as stabilized as possible and monitor them for possible complications. Unfortunately, apart from realigning the spine, most spinal cord injuries are irreversible. Doctors mostly focus on preventing other problems such as bladder or bowel issues, infections, and blood clots. The daily hospital costs in Dallas can add up quickly.
• Surgery: Some spinal cost injuries require surgeries in order to correct or repair the damages. Victims will also incur the costs of post-operative care.
• Medical Equipment: As mentioned, a spinal cord injury may result in temporary or permanent paralysis. In both instances, the victim will require special care and the use of medical equipment. However, permanent paralysis may demand the long-term use of equipment such as a special bed, a high-tech wheelchair, a respiratory machine, feeding tubes, and so on, all of which add to the total treatment costs.
• Therapy: Almost all SCI victims require months or years of occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling and other forms of ongoing treatment before they either fully recover or can cope with their new way of life.

Whether an SCI result in temporary or permanent paralysis, medical costs can cost millions of dollars. In a study on the cost of living with SCI, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation estimates that the average cost of treatment during the first–year amounts to  $1 million. This includes the initial hospital costs, home modification costs, cost of rehabilitation, and the acquisition of medical equipment such as a wheelchair. Victims are forced to incur more than $200,000 in bills in subsequent years.

Why Seek Legal Redress?

Often, SCI victims are forced to take loans, take second mortgages, and max out their credit cards as their insurance policies cannot fully cover the cost of SCI treatment. If the injury was due to another person’s negligence, you can file a lawsuit against them. Negligent actions in car or truck accidents include drunk driving, speeding, distracted driving or texting while driving, failure to obey traffic lights, and driving a vehicle with mechanical damages.

A personal injury attorney will help you get compensation for:

• Medical Expenses: Apart from the initial costs of treating a spinal cord injury, treatment could extend for years or even a lifetime. An attorney will help you calculate the anticipated costs of future treatment and make sure you are adequately compensated.
• Lost Wages or the Loss of Earning Ability: An SCI victim will have to take some time off in order to recover. Even after they recover, they may be forced to work part-time or take a lower-paying position. In the case of a severe injury, the victim may no longer be able to work. A personal injury attorney will, in most cases hire a vocational expert who assesses the victim’s residual earning capacity and ensures that this is accounted for in the settlement amount.
• Pain and Suffering: SCI victims not only suffer physical pain but also go through emotional anguish due to fact or such as; struggling with bladder and bowel control, sexual dysfunction, difficulty walking, or being confined to a wheelchair. All these can lead to extreme mental trauma for which you need to be compensated for.
• Loss of Companionship: Affected parties such as parents, spouses, and children can get compensation for the effects of the SCI.

Contact an Experienced Spinal Cord Injury Attorney at Thompson Law

Call Our Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers for a FREE CONSULT

At Thompson Law, we understand the difficulties that all SCI victims and their families go through. Call us today to discuss happened to you no charge. Your case evaluation is confidential, without charge, and there’s no obligation. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We’ll get started on your case the moment you call, and can either sign you up over the phone, or come visit you in person.

Our experienced team of spinal cord injury lawyers are dedicated to helping you get the justice you deserve. We can explain your legal options without any upfront fees, and you will only pay if we win your case. Get in touch with us today at (469) 565-0075 for a free case evaluation.