Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
There are different types of spinal cord injuries, typically depending on the location and severity of damage to the nerves and vertebrae. Understanding these can prove useful not only in terms of treatment and coping with your injury but also in pursuing the level of compensation that will provide for your lifelong care.
Complete Spinal Cord Injuries
A complete spinal cord injury results in a total loss of function below the level of the injury. This means there is no sensation or voluntary movement, and both sides of the body are equally affected. These injuries can result in paraplegia or quadriplegia, depending on the section of the spine that is injured. Paraplegia typically affects all or part of the trunk, legs, and pelvic organs. Quadriplegia (or tetraplegia) affects all four limbs, as well as the torso.
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries
Incomplete injuries mean that there is some function below the primary level of the injury. Individuals with incomplete spinal cord injuries may have some movement or sensation in affected areas. The extent and type of function vary widely, depending on the severity of the injury.
The following are types of incomplete spinal cord injuries:
- Anterior Cord Syndrome involves damage to the front of the spinal cord, affecting motor and sensory pathways.
- Central Cord Syndrome results in loss of function in the arms more than the legs, with varying sensory loss.
- Posterior Cord Syndrome affects the back of the spine, impacting sensory pathways instead of motor function.
- Brown-Sequard Syndrome is characterized by damage to one side of the spinal cord, resulting in paralysis and loss of touch on the same side as the injury, with loss of pain and temperature sensation on the opposite side.
Cauda Equina Syndrome
This is a rare and serious condition caused by compressed or damaged nerve roots at the lower end of the spinal cord. It can lead to loss of sensation in the lower part of the body, loss of bladder and bowel control, and sexual dysfunction.
Spine Injuries: Common Causes & Determining Liability
When a person experiences a spinal cord injury, understanding its cause is an essential part of moving forward with a claim. Potential causes include:
- Motor vehicle accidents, including car, truck, and motorcycle accidents, are the leading causes of spinal cord injuries. The force of the collision can cause severe damage to the spine, leading to partial or complete paralysis.
- Falls from significant heights, slip and fall incidents, and workplace accidents, particularly in construction, can result in spinal injuries. Older adults are especially vulnerable to sustaining spinal cord injuries from falls.
- Acts of violence, including gunshot and knife wounds, can sever or damage the spinal cord. These incidents account for a substantial percentage of spinal cord injuries annually.
- Contact sports, diving into shallow water, and other recreational activities can lead to spinal injuries. While these injuries are less common, they can be particularly devastating to younger individuals.
- In rare cases, medical procedures can result in spinal cord damage. This may occur due to surgical errors, incorrect handling during medical treatment, or complications from invasive procedures.
As Midland spine injury attorneys, we understand how to investigate cases of this kind in order to determine what caused our client's injuries and who is to blame. It may be a negligent driver, the manufacturer of a defective product, an employer who failed to put safety first, or a property owner who allowed hazardous conditions to persist. Serving Odessa, Midland, all of Texas, and the entire U.S., we have the resources to get to the bottom of these matters.
Long-Term Effects of Spinal Cord Injuries
Whether someone is dealing with bulging or herniated discs, vertebrae fractures, paralysis, or other serious spinal cord injuries, these back or neck injuries can severely affect other aspects of one's health. In many cases, recovery will involve intensive treatment, ongoing therapy, and sometimes continual medical care for the foreseeable future.
Some of the effects of spinal cord injuries can include:
- If injured at C3, C4, C5 segments or above, breathing can be affected to the point that a ventilator is required.
- Blood clot risks increasing significantly.
- Blood pressure issues and irregular heartbeats, particularly when the cervical spine has been injured.
- Spasms that result when a damaged spinal cord means that reflexes can fire off spastically.
- Pressure sores can develop for paralyzed patients who need help to be moved often enough to avoid these sores from developing, and who will also require a diet that promotes skin health.
- Bladder and bowel functions can be disrupted, requiring a catheter implant in some cases to avoid infection.
- Sexual and reproductive function can result from spine injuries, more often in men than in women.
There are many other effects to consider as well. For instance, in cases of paraplegia and quadriplegia, this could mean learning to live in a wheelchair, losing much in the way of earning capacity, and dealing with the psychological trauma as well as the resulting financial strain.
Financial Compensation for Spine Injury Victims in Midland
After a serious spinal cord injury, many families are unsure what kinds of compensation may be available or how those damages are calculated. Medical bills from emergency care, follow-up appointments, and long-term rehabilitation can add up quickly, and the costs can be overwhelming, especially when someone is unable to return to work. It can be tempting to accept an initial settlement, simply because of the immediate financial security it brings. However, spinal cord injuries are complex, severe, and long-lasting. Even if the initial settlement offer seems like enough, it likely won't cover ongoing expenses and future care costs.
At Arnold & Itkin, our goal is to help you understand the full value of your claim so you can make informed choices about whether to accept a settlement or continue pursuing your case in court. In nearly every case, it's in your best interests to work with a lawyer who can aggressively advocate for the full amount you need and deserve. This doesn't always mean going to trial; our attorneys are highly skilled at negotiation and know how to persuasively demonstrate the true value of your claim. However, when an insurance company refuses to play fair, we are always prepared to represent our clients in court.
The law allows you to seek recovery for much more than just the initial hospital bill. We look at things like:
- Future medical needs, including surgeries, in-home assistance, and mobility equipment
- Lost income, including future wages, and reduced earning capacity
- The very real impact of pain, suffering, physical limitations, and lost independence
We also consider how the injury has affected your relationships and day-to-day experiences, including the strain on spouses, children, and other family members who may step in as caregivers. By gathering testimony from friends, co-workers, and treating providers, we can show insurers or a jury the difference between your life before and after the accident. This careful preparation helps ensure that any resolution—whether through a fair settlement or verdict—reflects the true scope of what you have lost and what you will need going forward.
After a Spinal Cord Injury: What You Should Do
If you or someone you love has been catastrophically injured, the steps you take right now could impact their ability to get the care they need. First and foremost, seek medical attention. Once you've done that, involve an attorney who has experience with these cases. Our Midland spinal cord injury law firm is standing by to help when you need it most.
After emergency treatment, you should try to document as much as you can about what happened, including photos of the scene, contact information for witnesses, and any communication from employers or insurance companies. Keeping copies of diagnostic imaging, medical records, and notes about your symptoms can help us show how the injury has changed your daily life. When you reach out to us, we can explain how our Midland spine injury attorneys will evaluate liability, insurance coverage, and the full scope of your losses so that you are not left guessing about your options.
It is also important to avoid giving recorded statements or signing documents for insurance carriers until you have had the chance to talk with a lawyer. Adjusters may seem friendly, but their job is to protect the company’s bottom line, not your long-term medical needs. We can communicate with insurers on your behalf, help you coordinate follow-up care with trusted Midland providers, and make sure critical deadlines under Texas law are not missed while you focus on your health.
Dealing with the insurance company and other involved parties without legal counsel can prove disastrous to your claim. You could feel forced to accept a settlement that is worth far less than what you deserve, you may be pressured into working with the wrong doctor or returning to work too soon, or you could even be blamed for an accident you didn't cause. No matter the circumstances or your concerns, reach out today to talk about the ways we can help you.
Turn to Record-Setting Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers in Midland
Getting medical care as soon as possible is critical for any amount of recovery. After getting emergency medical care, a patient's long-term rehabilitation may require working with rehab nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other specialists. From medications and orthopedic procedures and devices and more, recovery can be an intense process that requires the right amount of funding, especially if you want to be treated by skilled experts.
That’s where Arnold & Itkin comes in.
When you choose our firm, we take the time to understand how your injuries affect your work, family, and future so we can pursue compensation that reflects the true cost of a spinal cord injury. We regularly work with life-care planners, economists, and medical professionals to calculate long-term needs, such as home modifications, mobility equipment, and in-home care.
We can investigate the causes of your accident, determine who is at fault, and then build the case needed to secure the financial compensation you need to cover all your related costs and more. Our Midland injury attorneys have won more than $20 billion on behalf of our clients, and we have done so on a contingent fee basis. That means we only get paid if our clients do. We charge nothing upfront and won't charge anything until we've won compensation for you.
Learn more in a free and confidential consultation. Call (888) 493-1629 today to reach out to our Midland spinal cord injury attorneys.
