Spinal Cord Injury Claim: Causes And Special Issues In Damages
Posted on: 21 July 2018
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The spinal cord is one of the most important parts of your body because it links your brain and the rest of the body. That is why it is unfortunate that spinal cord injuries are still relatively common. Some accidents are known for causing more spinal cord injuries than others.
Common Causes of Spinal Injuries
Car Accidents
Auto accidents, which include both motorcycles and cars, are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries. The damage to your spinal cord occurs when the ligaments, bone, or spinal cord disc materials bruise, crush, or tear up. In the process, some of the nerve cells in your spinal cord are damaged. You can incur a spinal injury in an auto accident when something (such as a car seat) bumps onto your back or when you are thrown out of the car and onto a hard surface. When this happens you will want the help of an experienced auto accident attorney, like those with Bangel, Bangel & Bangel, to help you file a personal injury claim.
Falls
Fall accidents also cause a considerable number of spinal injuries in the U.S. The risk of falling and incurring a spinal injury is even greater in those aged over 65 years because their bones are weak and they also have mobility issues. For example, if you are aged and you are using a bathroom without grab bars, you may lose your footing and land on your back when getting out of the shower, leading to a spinal injury.
Special Issues in Damages
A spinal injury can have devastating and long-term effects on all aspects of your life. This is because the spinal cord is connected to numerous parts of your body, including your limbs that use it as a pathway to the brain. That is why a spinal cord injury can limit mobility and functions of other parts of the body.
For this reason, your spinal injury claim is likely to include damages such as:
- Ongoing medical care and rehabilitation
- Compensation for future loss of earnings
- Home modification (such as the installations of ramps) to suit your injury
- Assistive devices such as wheelchairs
- Domestic helper costs for assisting with home chores
Hopefully, you will get your full compensation if you have injured your spinal cord in an accident. This is one of those injury cases that are best handled by a lawyer because the stakes are so high.