Nobody wakes up in the morning and expects their life to be completely changed in one instant. A spinal cord injury is one of the most catastrophic injuries a person may experience, and our spinal cord injury attorneys have seen the impact it has on victims and their families.
After a catastrophic injury, many people will require immediate medical care for minor injuries or are injured to the extent of permanent damage. No matter your experience, our experienced attorneys are ready to help you through a spinal injury lawsuit.
Understanding the Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord transmits messages between a person’s brain and the rest of the body. Our spinal cord injury attorneys have seen these injuries impact the spinal cord, vertebrae or nerves that are attached to the spine. The areas that can be affected during an accident are the cervical (neck), thoracic (middle of back) and lumbar (low back) vertebrae.
The spinal cord injuries may vary depending on the location in the spine and the severity. Spinal cord injuries may be complete or incomplete. A complete spinal cord injury will result in total paralysis below the injury level of the spine. It can also result in quadriplegia, which is paralysis to all four limbs or paraplegia, which is paralysis to the lower portion of the body. A person with an incomplete spinal injury could still have some motor or sensory body function.
Common Injuries in a Spinal Injury Lawsuit
Car accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in Missouri and the Midwest. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, 38.6% of spinal cord injuries since 2015 were caused by vehicle crashes. Falls from ladders and construction site injuries are also common causes of trauma to the neck and back.
Most spinal cord injuries are caused by a traumatic blow to the vertebrae, the bones in the spine. A fracture or break in the vertebrae may damage the spinal cord and the nerves leading to a complete or incomplete spinal cord injury.
In addition to paralysis, they may also leave other life-long conditions in their wake. Some of the common after effects our spine injury attorneys have seen include:
- Loss of bowel control
- Exaggerated reflux activities or spasms
- Change in sexual function
- Pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Pressure sores (bedsores)
- Circulatory system issues
- Loss of muscle
Hiring a spinal cord injury attorney after receiving necessary medical treatment will help you understand the evidence you should compile and how to navigate filing a spinal injury lawsuit.
Contact a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury to the spine during a tractor trailer accident, construction site accident or a car crash, you need an experienced spine injury attorney who understands all the legal implications. Our lawyers have handled cases in the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County, Jefferson County, Franklin County, and throughout Missouri. Additionally, we have also handled cases throughout the Midwest, including Illinois, Arkansas and Kansas.
To learn more about some of the spinal cord injury cases we have worked on, visit our past results page to view our recent case work and get in touch with an MHM spinal cord injury attorney today.