A spinal cord injury is one of the most debilitating and frightening injuries. It can be devastating on several levels. Besides the physical pain associated with a spinal cord injury, victims usually experience significant financial hardships due to the cost of medical care and loss of income. If you or a loved one have suffered a spinal cord injury, the Irvine spinal cord injury lawyers at the Crockett Law Group provide skillful, client-focused representation for victims in California. Call us today at (800) 900-9393 for your free, no-obligation consultation to see how best to recover full compensation for your personal injury case.
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How Much Are Spinal Cord Injuries Worth?
Spinal cord injuries usually lead to significant expenses. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, the first year of medical costs associated with spinal cord injuries can range anywhere from a few hundred thousand dollars to over a million dollars, depending on severity. Spinal cord injury victims usually require lifelong care. It is estimated that spinal cord injury victims require anywhere from $40,000 to $190,000 annually for the remainder of their lives. These costs don’t consider the person’s lost income, home and vehicle accommodations, and other hidden accident-related costs. If you or a loved one faced a severe spinal cord injury, contact us today for your free, no-obligation consultation and case review. Our spinal cord injury lawyers have experience handling such cases and are ready to help you determine exactly how much your spinal cord injuries are worth and help you recover the compensation you are rightfully entitled to for your injuries.What Are the Most Common Types of Spinal Cord Injuries?
Spinal cord injuries have numerous symptoms. The most catastrophic injuries involve paralysis and the extent of paralysis is determined by where the injury is located/ The higher on the spinal cord the injury is located, the more of the body is impacted. Paraplegia and quadriplegia are the two forms of paralysis often caused by spinal cord injuries.Paraplegia
Spinal cord injuries that result in paralysis of the legs but not of the arms is referred to as paraplegia. Paraplegics cannot walk, but they still have use of their arms and can utilize wheelchairs to get around.Quadriplegia/Tetraplegia
Spinal cord injuries that result in paralysis from the neck down, including legs and arms is referred to as quadriplegia or tetraplegia. It is the severest form of paralysis associated with spinal cord injuries. Other types of paralysis include:- Monoplegia: It is a type of paralysis where just one limb is paralyzed.
- Hemiplegia: It is a type of paralysis where the arm and leg on one side of the body are paralyzed.
- Complete: It is paralysis that results in total loss of sensation and muscle function in the affected limbs.
- Partial: It is paralysis that results in some muscle functioning and sensation, such as when a person is able to move one leg but not the other, or feel sensations such as heat or cold.
- Spastic: With spastic paralysis, the muscles in affected limbs are either unusually stiff or display movements and spasms that aren’t under the individual’s control.
- Flaccid: It is a type of paralysis where the muscles in the affected limbs are weak and floppy; muscles in flaccid paralysis may shrivel.
Why Should You See a Doctor Right Away After a Back Injury?
Spinal cord injuries are sometimes not immediately apparent. You may have been involved in a minor car accident and discounted your injuries. You may assume that a few trips to a chiropractor or physical therapist are all you need to be back in business. The reality is that you must never delay seeking treatment especially after suffering a back injury, no matter how minor it might appear to be. Not only are such injuries potentially life-threatening, but the insurance companies can easily use your delay in seeking treatment to justify offering you less compensation than you are entitled to. It is always advisable to visit a healthcare professional after suffering any kind of potential damage to the brain or spinal cord too. Some injuries may cause paralysis immediately while others may develop into a paralyzing condition over time.What Are Some of the Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries?
Spinal cord injuries are often the result of severe accidents that are caused by another party’s recklessness or negligence. Here are some of the causes of spinal cord injuries:- Medical and surgical complications
- Falling objects
- Violent acts
- Sporting or recreational accident
- Slip and fall accidents
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Work accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents