No one ever expects to be injured in an accident, especially a catastrophic injury that turns his or her life upside down. Many injuries heal within a matter of weeks or months, but there are other injuries that can cause long-term or permanent damage. Spinal cord injuries are this type of personal injury; they can result in partial or total paralysis, either temporarily or permanently.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Are you Suffering from a Spinal Cord Injury?
When a person’s spinal cord is injured, he or she may have difficulty walking or performing basic daily activities and may be unable to return to work. These catastrophic injuries deserve extensive compensation from the party responsible for causing the accident and resulting injury.
Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal Cord Lesions
Spinal cord injuries occur when the spinal cord becomes bruised or severed – injuries which are known as “lesions.” When the spinal cord is bruised or suffers a very minor lesion, the individual may lose some feeling and mobility below the area of injury. More serious damage or severance of the spinal cord could cause complete loss of feeling and mobility below the damaged area.
Paraplegia
Persons whose spinal cord injury is below the first thoracic spinal nerve (below the neck, generally) could lose feeling and / or mobility in the legs, torso, and trunk. They will still have use of their arms and neck.
Quadriplegia / Tetraplegia
When the spinal cord is injured above the first thoracic spinal nerve (from the neck up), then the individual will lose feeling and / or mobility in all four of his or her limbs, as well as his or her trunk and torso.
Partial Paralysis
When the spinal cord lesion is not severe, such as a bruised spinal cord, the individual could suffer from some loss of feeling or mobility, but not a complete loss.
Total Paralysis
Severe damage or a complete severing of the spinal cord will result in total paralysis. There will be no feeling or mobility whatsoever below the area of injury.
Temporary Paralysis
Minor spinal cord injuries have a possibility of healing. Reversible damage to the spinal cord could result in temporary paralysis that recovers over time. Temporary paralysis can be either partial or total.
Permanent Paralysis
Severe spinal cord injury can result in irreversible damage. This means that the individual will be paralyzed, either partially or fully, for the rest of his or her life.
Speak with a Lawyer
Contact a lawyer away if you or someone you know has suffered a spinal cord injury. Our legal team understands the serious nature of these injuries and can fight tirelessly to win fair compensation for you, including compensation for any future or ongoing damages and medical treatment. Your initial case evaluation is free, so you have nothing to lose. Call our offices today!
