Spinal injuries can be severe, and they often lead to other health complications.
If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, you understandably may be going through physical, emotional, and financial hardships.
If this is the case, you need a zealous advocate to help you recover the costs of injuries.
At The Weinberg Law Offices, we have a team of experienced attorneys ready to advocate on your behalf so that you can get the most compensation possible in your spinal cord injury lawsuit in Los Angeles.
Below, this post will discuss some basic aspects of spinal cord injuries and talk about the type of compensation you may be entitled to. This way, you can be more fully informed before initiating your legal claim.
What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?
A spinal cord injury is defined as any damage to the spinal cord or the nerves at the end of the spinal canal. They can cause changes in strength, sensation, and other functions below the site of the injury. Symptoms of a spinal cord injury include:
- Loss of movement,
- Loss of bowel or bladder control,
- Changes in sexual functions,
- Pain or tingling sensations in certain parts of the body,
- Difficulty breathing, and
- The inability to feel heat, cold, or touch.
These are just some of the common symptoms that indicate a spinal cord injury. If you believe you have suffered a spinal cord injury, you should reach out to a spine injury lawyer in Los Angeles and seek medical attention immediately.
The Different Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Most spinal cord injuries can be divided into two kinds: complete and incomplete. A complete spinal cord injury involves permanent damage of an area of the spinal cord.
When someone suffers a complete spinal cord injury, tetraplegia or paraplegia can result. On the other hand, an incomplete spinal cord injury refers to partial damage to the spinal cord.
If you have suffered an incomplete spinal cord injury, your ability to move around and the amount of feeling you still have will depend on which part of the spinal cord you injured.
In addition, there are four different levels of a spinal cord injury. The levels are categorized based on the area of the spinal cord that was injured. The four levels are:
- Sacral spinal cord injuries. These injuries can affect the hips, thighs, and pelvic region. However, it is still likely that a person who suffers this injury will be able to walk.
- Lumbar spinal cord injuries. Lumbar spinal cord injuries affect the hips and the legs. If someone has suffered a lumbar spinal cord injury, they may need braces to walk, or they may need a wheelchair.
- Thoracic spinal cord injuries. These injuries affect the mid-back, upper chest, and abdominal muscles. Functioning of the upper body is still common with these types of injuries.
- Cervical spinal cord injuries. These are the most serious form of spinal cord injury as they affect the neck and head. They often involve complete loss of sensory function.
If you have suffered one of the above or another type of spinal cord injury, you should reach out to a Los Angeles spinal cord injury lawyer.
The Aftermath of a Spinal Cord Injury
Modern medicine is significantly improving. However, there is still no way to fully repair a damaged spinal cord. This means that recovery can be a lifelong process.
In the month after your injury, you will likely undergo physical therapy that will help determine the extent to which the spinal cord injury has affected your body. Some may see significant improvement during that month while others may not. For some, partial recovery can even take years of therapy.
During therapy, you’ll work with a certified medical specialist who can teach you new skills and help you learn to live as independently as possible with your new injury.
We understand that therapy can be a strenuous process. It will be helpful to have support from friends and family along your journey. It may also be comforting to know that you have an experienced Los Angeles spinal cord injury lawyer on your side during these times.
What Types of Accidents Cause Spinal Cord Injuries?
Spinal cord injuries can result from a number of different types of accidents. However, there are some accidents that have a higher likelihood of causing a spinal cord injury. These accidents include:
- Workplace accidents,
- Automobile accidents,
- Motorcycle crashes,
- Slip and falls,
- Acts of violence, and
- Sports accidents.
If you have been injured in one of the above or another type of accident, you should reach out to a Los Angeles spinal cord injury attorney. A spine injury lawyer in Los Angeles can help you get the justice you deserve after an accident.
What Types of Damages Are Available for Spinal Cord Injuries
There are two main types of damages that someone can seek after suffering a spinal cord injury in an accident.
The first type of damages, called pecuniary damages, are damages that are quantifiable in nature. They stem from costs that are easily calculable, like the costs of medical care. Some examples of pecuniary damages include:
- Hospital bill costs,
- Doctor visit costs,
- Lost wages,
- Property damage costs,
- Costs of therapy and rehabilitation,
- Costs of medicine, and
- Lost employment benefits.
On the other hand, non-pecuniary damages stem from things that are harder to calculate in terms of monetary value. These types of damages include:
- Pain and suffering,
- Loss of enjoyment of life,
- Loss of consortium,
- Permanent impairment or disfigurement, and
- Emotional trauma.
There is also a third type of damages, called punitive damages, that are less common but may be recoverable depending on the circumstances of your case.
These are generally available in situations where the defendant’s actions were intentional or they acted without regard for how their actions would affect others.
How Can The Weinberg Law Offices Help?
At The Weinberg Law Offices, we understand that suffering a spinal cord injury can be traumatic.
If you have been involved in an accident that led to a spinal cord injury, you need a lawyer who will communicate with you at every step of the road and who will stand up to the insurance companies.
At The Weinberg Law Offices, we provide every one of our clients with just that. To reach out to contact our office, you can call us at 206-761-1016.