While spinal cord injuries typically come with high medical bills, it's possible that you will be able to obtain damages for your injuries.
The spinal cord extends from the stem of the brain down to the lumbar region of the body. The spinal cord is comprised of many different nerves that help to control movement.
Spinal cord injuries can cause major problems with a person’s quality of life, which is why it’s important to consider all of your legal options if you’ve sustained a spinal cord injury that you believe was the fault of another person or entity.
What Are Spinal Cord Injuries?
Injuries to the spinal cord can be severe because of how the spine controls movement throughout much of the body. Even with a minor injury, the spine can create big problems with mobility. When the spinal cord has become damaged, it’s possible for the injured individual to suffer from reduced mobility and inability to feel below the injured area. Some of the more severe spinal cord injuries can even result in death. Around half of all spinal cord injuries are the result of a car accident. Given how severe this type of injury can be, it’s heavily recommended that you think about filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit if someone else was at fault for the injuries that you’ve incurred.
Symptoms Related to Spinal Cord Injuries
The types of symptoms that you experience when affected by a spinal cord injury depends on the location of the injury. The most common symptoms include poor coordination, weakness, numbness, loss of bladder control, back pain, and even paralysis in a certain area of the body. While car accidents are the most common causes of these injuries and the symptoms that come with them, some of the other causes you should look out for include slip and fall accidents, gunshot wounds, and sports-related injuries.
Possible Legal Claims for Spinal Cord Injuries
If you’re thinking about filing a personal injury lawsuit for your spinal cord injury, there are two factors that could provide you with the means of obtaining compensation. The most common of these factors is negligence. If someone’s negligence brought about your injuries, they may be liable for the expenses and costs related to these injuries. It’s also possible that the spinal cord injury was caused by a faulty product. If a manufacturing or design flaw of a product caused your spinal cord injuries, the company that made the product could be held liable.
Types of Damages
There are an array of damages that can be sought in personal injury cases that cause spinal cord injuries, the primary of which include medical expenses and lost wages. The emotional and physical suffering that you’ve endured because of the injury may also be taken into account when damages are being calculated. Punitive damages can also be sought if the defendant was intending serious harm.
