What Are the Major Kinds of Spinal Cord Injuries?

All kinds of spinal cord injuries are devastating, medically and financially. At best, SCIs are difficult to treat. Generally, risky back surgery and addictive pain pills are the only two treatment options. At worst, SCIs are completely debilitating. Furthermore, lifelong SCI-related medical bills could be as much as $5 million. So, these victims deserve, and need, substantial compensation.

From start to finish, a Maitland personal injury lawyer works hard to obtain this compensation. The settlement process begins with a thorough case evaluation. Based on this evaluation, a lawyer forms a plan. Then, the legal team collects evidence and builds a strong case that effectively refutes insurance company defenses. Finally, a Dr. Phillips personal injury lawyer isn’t satisfied with anything less than the best possible result under the circumstances.

Complete Spinal Cord Injury

Catastrophic accidents, such as major truck crashes, often cause a complete SCI, which is a total loss of motor and sensory function below the injury level. Forms of paralysis include:

• Paraplegia, or paralysis of the legs and lower body, usually due to injuries in the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral regions of the spine, and
• Tetraplegia (Quadriplegia), which is paralysis of all four limbs and the trunk, typically caused by injuries in the cervical (neck) region.

This kind of spinal cord injury is completely debilitating in every sense of the word. Most of these victims cannot ever work again or even venture outside their homes for very long. Largely for this reason, complete spinal cord injuries can lead to various secondary complications such as muscle atrophy, spasticity, and pain.

These secondary conditions, which may develop years after the injury, drive up the cost of lifelong medical bills, personal care, and other expenses. A Dr. Phillips personal injury lawyer must ensure that the settlement accounts for future expenses, as well as future pain and suffering. Otherwise, victims are financially responsible for these costs and they must suffer in silence.320

Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

An incomplete SCI is basically a partial SCI. These victims retain limited function below the injured area. The amount of function they have varies greatly, de[pending on the grade of injury. More on that below. Types of incomplete SCIs include:

• Central Cord Syndrome: This injury primarily affects the center of the spinal cord, causing more weakness in the arms than the legs. CCS is particularly common in all kinds of car crashes.
• Brown-Séquard Syndrome: This rare condition causes weakness and loss of sensation on one side of the body due to damage to one side of the spinal cord. Frequently, a pre-existing condition contributes to the risk and/or severity of BSS.
• Anterior Cord Syndrome: Low-speed car wrecks often cause ACS, a condition that affects the front of the spinal cord, causing loss of motor function and pain sensation.
• Cauda Equina Syndrome: Perhaps the rarest of all incomplete SCIs affects the nerves below the spinal cord, causing pain, loss of sensation, and bowel/bladder dysfunction.

The location of the injury on the spinal cord (e.g., cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral) determines affected body parts. The American Spinal Injury Association uses a standardized system to classify spinal cord injuries based on neurological function.

ASIA classifications play a large role in the size of an SCI settlement. So do statements from friends and family members. These individuals can’t testify about the cause of an SCI or its medical implications. But they can tell jurors how the SCI affects a victim on an everyday basis. Such testimony is often incredibly powerful.

Count on a Diligent Orange County Lawyer

Injury victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a confidential consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Dr. Phillips, contact Goldman Law, P.A. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we start working for you.

Source:

christopherreeve.org/todays-care/living-with-paralysis/costs-and-insurance/costs-of-living-with-spinal-cord-injury/