Accidents leading to spinal cord damage can be severe and change your entire life. Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are the result of trauma to a vulnerable nerve bundle with fibers extending from the brain and down the spine.
The spinal cord controls communication throughout the body, allowing for movement, sensation, and function. When someone else is reckless and their actions cause you harm, a Worcester personal injury attorney can help you hold them accountable. Speak with a compassionate and skilled catastrophic injury attorney from Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan & Blakesley, P.C. to learn more.
Many accidents and injuries can cause SCIs. Traumatic injuries involve damage from a sudden blow, causing fractures, dislocations, crushing, or compression. Car or motorcycle crashes can cause a traumatic blow or cause the body to twist into awkward positions, causing damage to the spinal cord. Falls are also a typical cause of SCIs, particularly for older adults. Knife wounds, gunshots, and other acts of violence may cause spine damage as well.
SCIs may result from damage to the spinal cord itself or to the bones (vertebrae), ligaments, discs, and other surrounding tissue, which can disrupt nerve signals and lead to disabilities. The disability may be temporary or permanent, resulting in changes to strength, sensation, mobility, and the ability to function. During a consultation, our Worcester attorneys could address your specific questions about disabilities caused by spinal cord trauma and about the process for obtaining a settlement.
SCIs fall within two categories, and the type plays a massive role in the extent of disability the victim suffers in the aftermath.
Complete injuries occur when the spinal cord breaks entirely, resulting in total loss of movement ability and sensation. The location of the injury on the spinal cord determines which part of the body it affects, as the injury prevents nerve communication from the brain to the body parts below the area of trauma.
Incomplete injuries result in some limitations in motor and sensory functioning because there is not a complete break of the spinal cord. As with complete injuries, the area where the trauma occurs determines which parts of the body it affects.
The level and severity of the injury determine the type of disability and which body parts lose function, leading to limited control abilities. Quadriplegia results from trauma near the neck region and may mean a lack of control of the arms, hands, trunk, legs, pelvis, and more. Paraplegia injuries occur in the lower spine and affect the legs, trunk, and pelvis.
An attorney in Worcester could answer questions you have about how the type of spinal cord injury may affect a legal claim.
An accident leaving you with a debilitating injury, such as an SCI, can change every part of your life, leaving you feeling devastated and angry. That is particularly true when the thoughtless actions of another caused an avoidable accident.
Fortunately, there are numerous resources available and processes for obtaining compensation from the liable party. Call Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan & Blakesley, P.C. today to schedule an appointment with a seasoned Worcester spinal cord injury lawyer who could review your case and explain your options.
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