You might get a splint and cast if you break a finger or a toe. That fracture could slow you down, but it’s not completely debilitating. Unfortunately, the same fracture on one of your body’s thirty-three vertebrae can cause complete immobility and might require surgery and weeks of recuperation and physical therapy to recover fully. This is why a spinal cord injury is often considered more serious and life-altering.
Anyone who suffers an injury to their spinal cord can face mounting medical bills. It might also be the injury that prevents someone from returning to work. In extreme cases, it might also mean paralysis, which will require around-the-clock care. This type of injury becomes even more of a challenge if someone else’s negligence causes it. That is a situation where you need to involve the Solomon Law Offices, LLC, as soon as possible.
An experienced Columbia spinal cord injury lawyer is dedicated to helping our clients find the compensation they’re entitled to for their losses. We appreciate that every client’s injury and impact on their family are different. That is why we pride ourselves on our attention and guidance. That support begins with a thorough understanding of all aspects of a spinal cord injury.
How Spinal Cord Injuries Can Happen
When filing a personal injury claim, it is essential to identify the at-fault party. A thorough investigation needs to be conducted to assign liability, beginning with the cause of the injury. Which of the following scenarios would apply to your injury?
Car Accidents
Even with a seat belt buckled and airbags deployed, the impact of a car accident can still severely jolt your body, resulting in a spinal cord injury. According to the Mayo Clinic, auto and motorcycle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries. These accidents account for half of all the spinal cord injuries that occur each year.
Slips and Falls
The slippery floors in your home, bathroom, and kitchen are prime spots for a slip-and-fall accident. Those accidents can also occur in grocery stores, restaurants, bars, and any other business that is not properly maintaining its property. That type of irresponsibility can establish premises liability.
Acts of Violence
An act of violence can include assault, stabbing, or shooting, and any one of those acts can result in a spinal cord injury.
Any one of those scenarios can cause a spine injury that can completely upend a person’s life. A Columbia spinal cord injury attorney can help the victim find a way to cover any financial losses associated with the injury.
Long-Term Effects of a Spinal Cord Injury
Unlike muscle strain, a spinal cord injury is something that you’re going to feel the effects of right away. In severe cases, the injured party could immediately experience partial or complete paralysis. Those side effects could be temporary and repaired with surgery. There is also a good chance that they could be permanent. Here are the other possible effects of a spinal cord injury:
Changes to Bladder and Bowel Control
Because a spinal cord injury can disrupt your body’s nervous system, your brain might be incapable of sending much-needed signals to your digestive system. That can increase the risk of UTI, kidney infections, kidney stones, or bowel obstructions.
Increased Risk of Pressure Ulcers
If your spinal cord injury has caused mobility issues, it can mean placing constant pressure on certain parts of your body. If left untreated, these areas can form pressure ulcers commonly known as bedsores.
Cardiovascular Problems
The aftereffect of a spinal cord injury can manifest as low blood pressure or life-threatening spikes in blood pressure. There can also be an increased risk of developing blood clots.
Difficulty Breathing
The signals your spinal cord sends also go to your respiratory system. If those muscles are paralyzed, you can develop breathing problems and difficulty clearing your lungs. That can lead to respiratory infections.
Loss of Bone Density and Muscle Tone
Being immobilized by a spinal cord injury can trigger the loss of bone density. That can increase the risk of bone fractures. Additionally, you can lose muscle tone, which curtails your ability to lift, grip, and carry things. There could also be an increase in muscle spasming.
A spinal cord injury can also result in chronic pain and impact a person’s sexual function and fertility. It can create a sedentary lifestyle, which leads to obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Beyond the physical challenges, the victim of a spinal cord injury can also develop several mental health challenges that include anxiety, stress, and depression.
The prescribed long-term treatment can include ongoing physical and occupational therapy to help improve or maintain a certain level of motor function that promotes strengthening muscle tone.
Victims might also be prescribed medications to combat blood clots, hypertension, respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, and digestive tract infections. Victims might also benefit from mental health therapy to develop coping mechanisms against depression and anxiety.
Get Help from a Columbia Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
How much can someone be compensated for a spinal cord injury? That is the number one question a Columbia spinal cord injury lawyer will ask. Because every accident is different, there is no set amount.
At Solomon Law Offices LLC, we work closely with each of our clients to assess all the current and future costs associated with a spinal cord accident. If we agree to take on your case, we’ll review the following items to determine fair compensation.
- Medical bills, including emergency room visits, hospital care, surgeries, physical or occupational rehabilitation, prescription medications, doctor’s appointments, and estimated future medical costs.
- Medical or mobility equipment, such as wheelchairs,
- Home accommodations such as ramps or stair lifts
- Loss of income
- Loss of earning capacity
- Chronic physical pain and distress
- Emotional trauma
When the final compensation number is agreed upon, our attorneys can help file the initial claim with the at-fault party’s insurance agent. We will take over the negotiations and communications to create an equitable agreement.
If the insurance company denies the claim or makes an unacceptable offer, we will discuss the possibility of filing a civil lawsuit and all the challenges involved with that approach.
The Solomon Law Group, LLC, Will Fight for You
You need an experienced Columbia spinal cord injury lawyer to work on your case. We have years of successful litigation experience that help us prevail in the courtroom. We’ll keep you fully informed about any updates or counteroffers throughout the process. We can provide options so you can make the best decision for you and your family.
Before that begins, you can call to set up a free case evaluation today. We’re standing by to hear your story.
