Accidents happen, but some accidents can cause more severe injuries than others. The spinal cord is one of the most sensitive parts of the body, and injuring it could change your life forever. A serious spinal cord injury can cause paralysis and might be impossible to repair with our current technology.
However, just a minor spinal cord injury can cause weakness, tingling, and may ultimately require surgery. As a result, any spinal cord injury is a serious matter.
At Morgan & Morgan, our spinal injury attorneys have seen how someone’s life can change after they’ve injured their spine. If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury in Tallahassee, contact us today to find out if one of our spinal cord injury attorneys can help you hold someone responsible for your injury.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is critical for humans to function, allowing the brain to communicate with the rest of the body. It is protected by muscle, bone, cartilage, and fluid, and even with all that it is still quite vulnerable during an accident. The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center reports that vehicle crashes are the leading cause of spinal injuries in the United States. However, falls from heights and injuries during recreational activities are also common.
In any given year, there are roughly 12,500 spinal cord injuries in the United States. Violent movements, such as a car accident or a workplace incident, can cause vertebral bones in the spine or discs cushioning those bones to move, putting pressure on the spinal cord and other nerve roots. This pressure can, in turn, cause damage, and in the worse case scenario sever the spinal cord completely.
Impact of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are often felt in places other than the spine. Damage from spinal cord injury may include:
- Pain, weakness, or loss of feelings in the hands or legs depending on the injury area
- Loss of sensation, including ability to feel heat, cold, or touch
- Incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and other bowel conditions
- Changes in fertility or sexual function
- Difficulty breathing
This list is not exhaustive. Spinal cord injuries can rob individuals of most of their feeling, ability to control parts of their body, and even result in death. A victim of paraplegia or another serious condition as a result of an injury can expect to incur more than $500,000 in medical and other expenses in the first year and nearly $70,000 each year thereafter. This makes fair compensation of crucial importance in order to best maintain your quality of life.
Tallahassee Spinal Cord Injury Victims Should Contact Morgan & Morgan
Even a minor or moderate back injury can entail a long and expensive recovery, often requiring surgery and time out of work to recover. When your life has been altered by a spinal injury caused by another’s negligence, our Tallahassee personal injury attorneys may be able to help you get the compensation you’re entitled to.
If you or a loved one has been in an accident caused by another person’s negligence that resulted in a spinal injury, our attorneys may be able to help. Contact Morgan & Morgan for a risk-free, no-cost case evaluation today to help you better understand your options.