Spinal Cord Injuries
Do You Need an Injury Attorney?
We offer a FREE consultation for all personal injury cases and there are no attorney fees unless you recover. Call 503-648-4777 during normal business hours and speak with a highly rated Hillsboro personal injury attorney immediately.
There are over 300,000 people living with a traumatic spinal cord injury in the United States, and more than 17,000 will be added to this number before the year is out. For each of these individuals, a customized care regimen, access to rehabilitation facilities, and a uniquely structured financial plan are all necessary to help them face the future.
If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury in a preventable accident like a car crash, slip and fall, or workplace incident, you deserve compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial impact on your life. A personal injury lawyer at Harris Velázquez Gibbens, P.C will advocate for you during this difficult time and aggressively negotiate for the money and medical care you need to restore quality and dignity to your life.
Facts About Spinal Cord Injuries
- There are currently over 300,000 people living with spinal cord injury in the United States. Approximately 17,000 new cases appear every year.
- 78% of new cases are men while only 22% are women.
- Since the 1970s, the average age of injury has increased from 29 to 43 years.
- Paraplegics make up 39.5% of spinal cord injured individuals, while quadriplegics make up 59.9%.
- First-year medical and rehabilitative expenses for quadriplegics can exceed one million dollars.
- In any given year, about 30% of people with a spinal cord injury are re-hospitalized at least once.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injury
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, known causes of spinal cord injury are distributed as follows:
- Motor vehicle accidents (39.3% of cases)
- Falls (31.8%)
- Acts of violence, such as gun wounds (13.5%)
- Sports and recreational activities (8%)
- Medical and surgical errors (4.1%)
- Other (3.1%)
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are categorized as complete or incomplete.
Complete Spinal Cord Injuries
When a spinal cord injury is complete, paralysis occurs below the site of the injury. Both sides of the body are equally affected and there is no feeling or voluntary movement. As a result, sensory and motor functions are completely lost below the injury site.
Quadriplegia
Quadriplegia, also known as tetraplegia, affects your arms, hands, trunk, legs, bowels, and bladder. There are several functional limitations associated with spinal cord damage in the neck between the first and fourth cervical vertebrae, including paralysis of the arms, hands, trunk, and legs. Breathing problems may also occur. People with injuries to the cord between the fifth and eighth cervical vertebrae can raise their arms and bend their elbows and wrists.
Paraplegia
An individual who suffers from this condition has paralysis in the trunk, legs, and pelvis, although they are typically able to use their arms and hands. Paraplegia may result from damage to the spinal cord in the thoracic region (middle of the back) and/or lumbar/sacral region (lower back).
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
This is the most common type of spinal cord injury, accounting for over 60% of cases.
During an incomplete spinal cord injury, only part of the cord is damaged. A person may suffer partial paralysis but still be able to feel and move on one or both sides of their body. Those with incomplete spinal cord injuries face their own set of challenges and complications, which can be just as debilitating as those with complete spinal cord injuries.
Get Full Recovery For your Injuries
Spinal cord injuries don’t just cause temporary physical pain, they can cause a lifetime of suffering, mental anguish, lost income, and expenses. And they can be a terrible hardship on family members left to care for the injured person. If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident or some you know has suffered a wrongful death, then you need to know our commitment to you: No case is settled until it is settled right. Call 503-648-4777 to speak directly with a personal injury attorney, or email us the details of your injury so we can start to help you today.
FAQS
When Should I Hire a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer?
If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, it is important to contact a personal injury lawyer experienced in representing these types of clients. The effects of spinal cord injuries can be devastating and life-altering, so your future care and financial needs must be carefully taken into account when calculating a settlement.
When you hire Harris Velázquez Gibbens, P.C., you will work with a Hillsboro spinal cord injury lawyer who understands what you are going through and will take over the hard work of obtaining the compensation you need. We can also assist you in sourcing medical and rehabilitative care that improves your quality of life while helping you achieve maximum medical improvement as soon as possible.
What Compensation Can I Get in a Spinal Cord Injury Claim?
Upon suffering a spinal cord injury, you are entitled to compensation for your past and future medical costs, lost income, lost earning ability, and other expenses directly related to the injury. They may include:
– Assistance with all activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, and getting in and out of bed
– Rehabilitation professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and psychologists
– Powered wheelchairs and other mobility aids
– Supplies for bladder and bowel support
– Modifications to the home and vehicle
You may also claim damages like pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life. If the party who injured you was especially negligent (e.g., a drunk driver), your spinal cord injury lawyer can seek punitive damages as well.
Spinal cord injuries can result in significant damages, so insurance companies often do everything they can to minimize the amount they have to pay. Your Hillsboro spinal cord injury lawyer at Harris Velázquez Gibbens, P.C. will refuse to settle for anything less than the full value of your claim and take your case to trial if necessary.
Get a Free Consultation From a Hillsboro Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
Survivors of spinal cord injuries face a variety of unique challenges. As a result, they need unwavering support and experience-backed advocacy from a lawyer who knows how to get results in such life-changing cases.
At Harris Velázquez Gibbens, P.C., we will ensure your rights are protected throughout the legal process so you can concentrate on recovering. To achieve the best possible settlement for you, our team will work closely with top medical professionals and experts who can verify the value of your claim and testify to that value if necessary. To discuss your legal options during a free, no-obligation consultation with a spinal cord injury lawyer, call us today at (503) 483-8896 or contact us online and we’ll return your message promptly.
