The human back is a complex structure consisting of bones, muscles, and tissue extending from the neck all the way down to the pelvis. At the center of it all is a bundle of nerves called the spinal cord which transmits information between the brain and the rest of the body. These nerves are enclosed and protected by the 33 vertebrae that make up the backbone or spine.
An injury to any part of the spinal cord can disrupt the function of the back and body as a whole, resulting in chronic pain, disability, and even paralysis. Further, the full extent of a spinal injury may not be immediately evident. Having an attorney who truly understands spinal injuries can help ensure you receive the medical attention you need and the financial compensation you deserve.
If you have suffered a spinal injury, chances are your injury has been categorized as either complete or incomplete. While this is often misinterpreted as meaning the spinal cord was either completely or partially severed, the measure of whether a spinal injury is complete or incomplete is actually dependent on how it affects sensory and motor function.
In most situations, the completeness of a spinal cord injury is not fully known until 6 to 8 weeks after the injury occurs.
Incomplete spinal injuries can be further categorized by the type of trauma suffered, where on the spinal cord the injury occurred, and the significance of the resulting loss of function. Some of the most common types of incomplete or partial spinal cord injuries include:
When loss of function or sensation occurs, it occurs beneath the highest vertebrae to suffer significant damage. This is because the paralyzing injury effective blocks or breaks the signal being sent by the brain down the spinal cord.
Typically, paralysis will be defined as:
There are many different causes of spinal cord injuries, including
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal injury due to the negligence of another, it is essential that you hire a personal injury attorney that is familiar with spinal cord injuries and understands just how catastrophic a spinal injury is.
Thomas J. Henry has handled numerous spinal injury cases over the past 25 years and in handling those cases, we have built a network of spinal injury experts who can investigate and explain the extent of your injuries. This includes explaining how your injury occurred, how your injury has impacted your quality of life, and how much your injury will cost you.
Our experienced personal injury attorneys are backed by the legal and financial resources necessary to recover the maximum amount of compensation for your injuries. Insurance companies will try to offer amounts that do not take into account the catastrophic impact a spinal cord injury may have on the rest of your life. We will fight to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries, pain and suffering, lost wages, medical costs, mental anguish, and more. Our lawyers are available 24/7, nights and weekends to evaluate your claim. Contact us today for a free case review.