Spinal cord injuries are among the most serious and devastating injuries a person can endure. When a person’s ligaments, vertebrae, nerves, or discs of the spinal column or the spinal cord become damaged, he or she can become completely or partially paralyzed. Personal injury victims have a right to hold the party or parties who caused their injuries responsible through a civil lawsuit.
The cost of treating paralysis can easily exceed a million dollars over a person’s lifetime. You may be entitled to compensation if you or your loved one have become paralyzed due to a spinal cord injury. Contact the skilled Dallas personal injury attorneys at Rochelle McCullough today to schedule a free case evaluation.
Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries occur when the spinal column ligaments, vertebrae, or discs become injured. There are two main ways spinal cord injuries can occur. A spinal cord injury can occur when an object penetrates a person’s spinal cord. Additionally, the force placed on a person’s spinal cord can cause damage, such as when a person’s back and neck snap forward and backward quickly in a car accident. Car accidents, slip and fall accidents, and other types of accidents that cause a blow to the spine can cause permanent injuries to the spinal cord. Paralysis can occur when any of the following types of trauma to the spinal cord occurs:
- Fractured vertebrae
- Dislocated vertebrae
- A sudden traumatic blow to the spine
- Compressed vertebrae
- Crushed vertebrae
- Violent incidents such as gunshot or knife wounds that cut the spinal cord
- Damage caused by inflammation, swelling, or fluid accumulation
Types of Spinal Cord & Paralysis Injury Cases We Handle
The Dallas & Fort Worth personal injury attorneys at Rochelle McCullough have extensive experience representing clients in various spinal cord injury cases. We understand how devastating spinal cord injuries and paralysis can be for victims of personal injury accidents. From the minute you begin working with us, we will begin advocating and negotiating for you so you can focus on your recovery. Rochelle McCullough represents clients who’ve suffered paralysis due to a spinal cord injury caused by the following types of accidents:
- Motor vehicle accident
- Acts of violence
- Slip and fall
- Alcohol
- Disease
- Construction accident
- Sports or recreational injury
Why Are Spinal Cord Injuries So Significant?
Spinal cords send information to and from a person’s brain and body. The spinal cord comprises complex bundles of nerves that begin at the brain space, run through the middle of the back, and end just above a person’s waist. A person’s spinal column comprises 33 bones, or vertebrae, protecting the spinal cord’s delicate nerves. Anytime the spinal cord sustains force, it can cause the bones of the spinal cord to fracture or bruise the delicate nerves running through the spinal column. Unfortunately, bruising and damage to the spinal cord cannot be cured because spinal cord cells do not regenerate.
A person may be able to recover some of their lost mobility over time through rehabilitation, but once the spinal cord is damaged, it will not repair itself. The effect of a spinal cord injury on a person’s body depends on the damage’s location and extent. When the nerves to the spinal cord suffer trauma, a person can suffer a loss of sensation and paralysis from the location of the injury downward.
Categories of Spinal Cord Injuries
Two classifications of spinal cord injuries cause paralysis. Complete spinal cord injuries occur when a patient loses all sensation and motor function below the spinal cord injury site. Incomplete spinal cord injuries occur when the patient still has some sensory or motor function below the injury site. Incomplete spinal cord injuries exist in varying degrees of severity based on the loss of functionality a patient has sustained. Paraplegia occurs when a person loses movement in their lower body. Quadriplegia occurs when a person loses movement in their lower and upper bodies.
Determining Liability in Spinal Cord Injury & Paralysis Cases
Victims can pursue compensation for their injuries when another person’s negligence or intentional behavior causes a spinal cord injury. To recover compensation, a personal injury victim must prove that the defendant is liable for his or her injuries. Depending on the facts of your case, one person or multiple people or companies may be liable for your injuries. You will need to prove that the defendant failed to use reasonable care under the circumstances to prevent injuries to others, breaching their duty of care. You will also need to prove that the defendant’s negligence caused the accident that resulted in your paralysis.
What Should I Do After a Spinal Cord or Paralysis Injury?
In the immediate aftermath of the accident that caused your injuries, you must receive medical care as quickly as possible. Paramedics should keep your body stable and carefully transport you to a hospital. At the hospital, your medical team should run diagnostic tests to determine your injuries’ severity.
All symptoms of spinal cord damage, including paralysis, may take time to appear after an accident fully. Make sure you follow your doctor’s orders, go through the rehabilitation process, and keep all your medical records. Only sign a settlement agreement once you’ve spoken to your attorney. An attorney can help you negotiate an entire and fair settlement agreement.
Compensation Available in Personal Injury Lawsuits
According to the Reeve Foundation, the average yearly expenses related to a spinal cord injury at the high tetraplegia level can exceed $5 million over a person’s life if the individual is injured at 25 years old. The more severe and widespread a person’s paralysis, the more medical and living expenses a person may incur. Personal injury plaintiffs can pursue economic and non-economic damages, including the following:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost income
- Property damage
- Disability and disfigurement
- Loss of earning capacity
Contact Our Experienced Spinal Cord Injury & Paralysis Attorneys
You may be able to obtain compensation through an insurance settlement to cover your medical expenses, lost income, and more. You only have a limited amount of time to file a compensation claim, or you may lose your ability to recover the compensation you deserve. Contact the skilled Dallas & Fort Worth personal injury attorneys at Rochelle McCullough to schedule a complimentary, no-obligation consultation.
We extend our personal injury legal services to help clients with paralysis and spinal cord injury cases throughout Texas, including Dallas, & Fort Worth, as well as in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Committed to advocating for your rights and securing the compensation you deserve.