Spinal Cord Injuries Can Be Catastrophic: Get Legal Help
Damage to a person’s spinal cord can be catastrophic, impacting nearly every aspect of their life. Spinal cord injuries are rarely mild and can cause permanent changes to a person’s mobility. In the most severe form, a spinal cord injury can cause complete paralysis. When someone else's negligence causes a serious injury, they must be held liable. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, contact our office immediately.
You should never have to pay out of pocket for someone else’s mistake or wrongdoing. At Ajlouny Injury Law, our attorneys offer free legal advice 24 hours a day. We know that accidents can happen anywhere at any time. We are here to help. Our attorneys have recovered millions through verdicts and settlements. Do not wait; if you're injured, call us for free legal help. There are no fees unless we win.
Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
When an accident or injury is caused by negligence or a person’s failure to provide a safe premises, they may be held accountable for any resulting damages. Proving liability in a spinal cord injury case can be complex, requiring intricate knowledge of New York law. At Ajlouny Injury Law, we know what is at stake and will always fight to get you the maximum recovery after an accident.
A sudden external impact most often causes traumatic spinal cord injuries. Common causes of spinal cord injuries according to the NSCISC include:
- Automobile accidents
- Falls
- Acts of violence
- Sports or recreational injuries
- Medical/surgical complications
- Other serious accidents
Spinal Cord Injury Statistics
As noted by the Mayo Clinic, traumatic spinal cord injuries are caused by a “sudden, traumatic blow to your spine that fractures, dislocates, crushes, or compresses one or more of your vertebrae.”
- According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), there are over 17,000 new spinal cord injury cases each year.
- Approximately 294,000 people are living in the United States with spinal cord injuries, the vast majority being males.
- Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, followed by falls and acts of violence.
- Tragically, life expectancy for people experiencing spinal cord injuries has not significantly improved in decades.
- Healthcare costs and living expenses for a spinal cord injury survivor are extraordinary. As reported by the NSCISC, the average first-year cost of a spinal cord injury resulting in paraplegia is over $500,000, and each subsequent year is estimated to cost nearly $75,000.
- Over the course of a lifetime, a person with a spinal cord injury may spend well over $1,000,000 on healthcare costs and living expenses. These figures do not even take into account lost wages or lost productivity resulting from the injury.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons notes that spinal cord injuries are defined by the severity of the damage: complete and incomplete.
"Complete" spinal cord injuries result in a total loss of motor and sensory function below the injury.
"Incomplete" spinal cord injuries mean that there is some remaining function below the injury level. A person may be able to move one extremity more than the other in this form of injury.
Spinal cord injuries are also defined in terms of the extent of paralysis:
- Paraplegia occurs when the lower body is paralysis, including all or part of the trunk and legs.
- Quadriplegia or tetraplegia occurs when a person's trunk, extremities, and pelvic organs are paralyzed as a result of the injury.
Recovering from a Catastrophic Injury
Recovering from a catastrophic spinal cord injury can take years of therapy, pain management, and surgery. As referenced by the Mayo Clinic, there can be any number of complications related to your injury, including:
- Loss of bladder control
- Loss of bowel control
- Circulatory problems
- Respiratory damage
- Loss of skin sensation
- Fertility issues
- Spasticity or flaccidity
It is important to seek medical treatment immediately after an accident or fall, to determine the extent of your injuries and protect your body from further damage. Any head, neck, or back pain could be indicative of a spinal cord injury and must be examined by a medical professional. It is imperative to continue all treatment and therapy under the direction of a physician or neurological specialist to prevent complications.
Receiving Compensation
If another party is at fault for your spinal cord injury, you might be entitled to compensation for damages, including medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To recover non-economic loss such as pain and suffering, you must show that the personal injury meets the serious injury threshold under Section 5102 (d) of New York Insurance Law. According to this code section, a "serious injury" includes one which results in the permanent loss or limitation of a body part or a non-permanent injury that prevents a person from continuing their daily activities for at least 90 of the 180 days immediately following the injury.
In most cases, a spinal cord injury will meet the threshold for a serious injury under New York Insurance law, enabling a victim to receive compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. It is vital to consult with an experienced Brooklyn spinal cord injury lawyer as soon as possible to determine your legal options following an accident or fall.
Hire an Experienced Attorney
Unlike other law firms, when you call our office, you always speak directly to an actual attorney who will give you free legal advice. We are focused on you and your recovery. Communication is a priority for everyone at our firm. Whether you feel more comfortable talking on the phone or simply texting, our staff is here for you. If you have been injured, speak to an attorney today by calling (516) 535-5555 or texting (516) 535-5555.
