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Brooklyn Spinal Cord Injury Attorney
Spinal cord injuries are some of the most severe a person could suffer. The spinal cord is an extremely important part of the body, and when it is damaged in an accident, the consequences are severe. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury that was the result of someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible for compensation to help cover the cost of your injury. An experienced Brooklyn spinal cord injury attorney from Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. can help you secure the maximum damages you deserve.
How Can an Attorney Help?
Negligent parties should be held accountable when they cause an injury as serious as damage to the spinal cord. However, you should never file a claim on your own. An experienced spinal cord injury attorney will make a huge difference. While working on your claim, a lawyer will bring the following benefits:
- Investigate the accident that caused the injury and collect evidence to substantiate your demand for compensation
- Reach out to their network of accident reconstruction experts to determine the cause of the accident, and which party to hold liable
- Pursue compensation from all parties that contributed to the accident that caused your injury
- Properly evaluate your claim by consulting with medical experts, vocational experts and medical health professionals
- Refute claims from the liable party that caused or contributed to your injury
- Enter into negotiations with the liable party’s insurance company so you recover the full compensation you deserve
- Take your case to trial and let a jury decide when liable parties and their insurers refuse to offer a fair settlement
At all times, a spinal cord injury attorney will work as your advocate and ensure your rights are upheld.
What Causes Spinal Cord Injuries?
Any traumatic accident has the potential to cause severe spinal cord injuries. Some of the main causes of these serious injuries include:
- Car accidents
- Construction accidents
- Medical Malpractice
- Motorcycle accidents
- Nursing home abuse
- Pedestrian accidents
- Defective products
- Slip and fall accidents
- Train accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bus accidents
- Dog bites
- Assaults
All of the above situations are the result of another person’s negligence. A spinal cord injury lawyer can help you file a claim when you have been injured due to that negligence.
Why are Spinal Cord Injuries So Serious?
The spinal column is essentially a long bundle of nerves that runs from the lower skull to the tailbone. Surrounding those nerves are small bones known as vertebrae that provide stability, strength, and protection for the spinal column. Between the vertebrae are discs, which absorb shock to the spine and help hold the vertebrae together. The discs in the spinal column are cartilaginous joints that provide mobility in the spine.
Damage to any part of the spine can result in a loss of function, mobility, and feeling. The amount of mobility and function a person may lose largely depends on the area of the spine that was injured. In most cases, the higher an injury is on the spinal cord, the more devastating and severe the consequences. This is because all parts of the body below the site of the injury will be impacted.
Determining Whether an Injury is Complete or Incomplete
Any injury to the spinal cord is classified as either complete or incomplete. When a spinal cord injury is complete, it will result in the loss of all movement and feeling below the level of the injury. A spinal injury that is considered incomplete, on the other hand, will allow the accident victim to retain some movement and feeling below the site of the injury.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
It is important to understand the different types of spinal cord injuries so you can better understand the severity of the injury you have sustained. The spinal column is divided into four different sections. From highest to lowest, these are the cervical spine, the thoracic spine, the lumbar spine, and the sacral spine:
A cervical spinal injury impacts the highest portion of the spine and encompasses the lower skull and the neck. Seven vertebrae make up the cervical spine and any damage to this area will result in the most serious injuries. A cervical spine injury can result in tetraplegia, or paralysis of the arms, legs, and torso. A person may experience loss of control of their bladder and bowels, and difficulty speaking. A person suffering from a cervical spine injury may also have difficulty breathing on their own.
A thoracic spinal injury affects the upper and middle parts of the back. Injuries to this area are still very serious and can result in paraplegia, or paralysis of the legs and torso. A person suffering from this type of injury may have limited control of their bladder or bowels, and they may find it difficult to breathe on their own.
A lumbar spinal injury impacts the lower back. Because this area carries most of the body’s weight, the vertebrae are much larger. Although these injuries are not as severe, a person may still lose some function in their hips and legs, and they may have difficulty controlling their bowels and bladder.
The vertebrae in the sacral spine are fused together and each bone correlates with a main nerve. As such, the consequences a person will feel will depend on the nerve that was damaged.
Statute of Limitations
Regardless of the type of spine injury you sustain, you can file a claim for damages. It is important to file a claim within three years from the date of the accident. This is the time limit for most spinal injury claims. If you do not file within this time, you may lose your right to claim compensation altogether.
Note that for spinal cord injuries caused by medical malpractice, the time to file suit is limited to 2 ½ years from the date of malpractice.
Get Legal Help Today
Spinal cord injuries are serious, and you deserve full compensation for them when they were caused by another’s negligence. At Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C., our experienced Brooklyn spinal cord injury attorneys are dedicated to helping accident victims recover the damages they deserve and we want to help you, too. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our skilled attorneys.
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