Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Spinal cord injury is damage to the vertebrae, ligaments, or disks of the spinal column. Your spine acts as a highway for your nerves and helps to tell your body what to do. Because of this, injuries to the spine are usually very traumatic.

Often, spinal cord injury results from a sudden blow to the spine. The impact dislocates, crushes, or compresses the vertebrae. Damage can continue to occur to the fracture site days or weeks after the initial injury. This is due to additional swelling, bleeding, and fluid build-up around the spinal cord.

Car accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in the United States. According to The Foundation for Spinal Cord Injury, more than 12,000 people suffer a spinal cord injury in the U.S. annually. While some victims experience a full recovery, others will become completely and permanently paralyzed.

All too often, car accidents are the cause of other serious back injuries. Other causes of spinal injuries can be falls, assaults, sports, recreation, and diseases.

How We Can Help

Attorneys at the Law Offices of L. Clayton Burgess have represented accident victims with serious spinal cord injuries since 1994. We seek fair and reasonable compensation for those who have suffered from the negligence of others. Spinal injuries are life-altering and serious. Don’t go through this trying period of your life alone. You need the guidance of an experienced personal injury attorney.

What Type Of Spinal Cord Injuries Are There?

Spinal cord injuries are usually caused by trauma to the spine. In addition, falling, whiplash from a car wreck, or being hit by a large moving object can be the cause. Sometimes these forces can fracture, dislocate, or rupture the ligaments of the spine. Other times the spinal cord will be partially torn or severed. Additionally, trapped fluid or blood clots can press on the spinal cord.

If only ligaments are injured, symptoms will likely be severe pain and swelling at the site of injury. If the spinal cord is injured, you will experience symptoms from the site of the injury and down. Frequently reported symptoms are a weakness of muscles, numbness, or tingling. More severely, you might experience a complete loss of feeling or ability to move. Organ function below the site of injury may also be impacted. Changes in sexual function or breathing can occur.

When Should I Seek Medical Attention?

Unfortunately, the signs of major spinal injury are not always obvious. But, these injuries always require immediate medical attention.
If you have had a major blow to the head or spine, it is best to seek medical attention. See a physician soon as you possibly can.
Even if you do not feel as though something major is wrong, there could be. Untreated spinal injuries often have irreversible medical repercussions.

What Happens After A Spinal Cord Injury?

After you have sustained a spinal cord injury, your body can change drastically. Especially, if you have suffered paralysis. You will require some degree of rehabilitation and incur medical expenses. You may lose the ability to move muscles or lose feeling in your extremities. Additional symptoms are fatigue and muscle weakness. Unfortunately, your ability to easily do your day to day activities will change.

The Cost Of Long-term Injuries

Spinal injuries will drain you, both physically and emotionally. All too often, this type of injury will drain a family’s finances. Frequently, medical care for spinal cord injuries is costly and long-term. Your mobility might be reduced. You may also have a hard time working or keeping your job.

Most people who have spinal cord injuries have secondary complications. For example, you may experience:

pain
respiratory and heart problems
bladder and bowel dysfunction
pressure sores
respiratory complications
urinary tract infections
spasticity
scoliosis

Due to the long-term nature of spinal cord injuries, future medical expenses must be considered during the negotiations for compensation. You want the terms of the compensation to cover the full impact of your injuries. The Law Offices of L. Clayton Burgess and our team of experienced lawyers and staff can assist you. We want you to have a full understanding of your legal rights before pursuing a claim.