Spinal cord injuries – even mild ones – can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. A person can go from being healthy and self-sufficient to depending on others. These injuries do not just affect victims; they often have a devastating impact on the entire family and their circle, changing relationships and turning loved ones into caregivers. They often affect a person’s ability to earn a living – at least in the short term – and come with direct and indirect costs, including medical bills, specialized equipment, and therapy.
Non-economic losses are often more devastating than economic losses. Even mild spinal cord injuries can dramatically change how people interact, their ability to provide companionship, and how they engage in romantic relationships, friendships, and family roles.
While damages cannot reverse the impact of these changes, they can compensate people for their losses. A Mandeville spinal cord injury lawyer at Smiley Injury Law could help you explore potential legal remedies. Meet with a knowledgeable catastrophic injury attorney for help filing a claim for compensation today.
When people think of spinal cord injuries, they often think of paralysis. However, not every spinal cord injury leads to paralysis. Mild spinal cord injuries can cause numbness, tingling, or loss of sensation in different parts of the body – particularly the hands and feet – muscle weakness, loss of bowel or bladder control, difficulty breathing, sexual dysfunction, and more.
The location and severity of the injury play a major role in the symptoms. Lower spinal cord injuries are more likely to affect sensation in the legs, bowel and bladder control, and sexual function while upper spinal injuries are likely to impact breathing, heart rate, and other autonomous functions. Since spinal cord injuries can worsen over time, anyone with a suspected injury should seek immediate medical care.
Spinal cord injuries can be fatal and may lead to paralysis in some parts of the body. This paralysis may be total or partial. Total paralysis refers to the complete loss of sensation and movement in a part of the body, while partial paralysis refers to the loss of sensation and movement to a lesser degree.
In addition to loss of movement or sensation, paralysis can also cause problems with other bodily functions. Common issues include loss of bowel and bladder control, breathing issues, and problems regulating heart rate, body temperature, and blood pressure. Many people with paralysis may also experience a loss of sexual function.
If a person retains any sensation or movement in their body, their chances of partial or full recovery are greater than if they lose all sensation. For most people, the first six months after the injury are the most critical for recovery. However, with continued treatment and therapy, people can continue to improve for years after the accident.
An attorney in Mandeville could fight for the necessary compensation to cover all necessary treatment after a spinal cord injury.
Some conditions can lead to chronic spinal cord injuries that worsen over time. However, in personal injury lawsuits, the cause of spinal cord damage is typically an injury or trauma. Any injury that bruises, tears, or severs the spinal cord may result in a spinal cord injury, potentially causing full or partial paralysis. If the injury results in the spinal cord being severed, current medical treatments cannot reverse the damage.
The more severe the trauma, the greater the likelihood of permanent spinal cord damage. Sports injuries, diving accidents, trampoline accidents, car accidents, and motorcycle accidents are some of the most common causes of these injuries in older children and adults. Birth injuries can also cause spinal cord damage in babies. Violence is another common cause of spinal injury, though these claims involve intentional behavior and may look different from other personal injury cases.
A lawyer in Mandeville could help determine the cause of a spinal cord injury, establish liability, and offer valuable support as a person recovers.
Dealing with the aftermath of a spinal cord injury can be overwhelming for you and your loved ones. Aside from sustaining emotional and physical trauma, you may face financial challenges, leaving you unsure of how to support your family after an accident. Fortunately, if someone else contributed to your injury, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Call a Mandeville spinal cord injury lawyer today to discuss your case.
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