Experienced Help for Spinal Cord Injury Victims in Clinton
We often take our backs and, more specifically, our spinal column for granted. It is not until we suffer a serious spinal cord injury that we realize how important our spinal cord is to helping us accomplish activities of daily living. Our ability to walk upright, to reach for items on shelves, to hold loved ones, to experience the sensation of touch, all depends on a functioning spinal cord. When a person suffers a serious spinal cord injury, that person’s life – and the life of his or her family – is forever changed.
Portrait of a Clinton Spinal Cord Injury Victim
Consider your own life: You are healthy, mobile, and independent. You enjoy being able to do the things you like to do, which include spending time with family, playing with your children or grandchildren, working at a meaningful job, and doing all of these things without significant pain or limitation. That is, until, you suffer a spinal cord injury. Now, your life looks much different:
- Your mobility is significantly impaired. You may be confined to a wheelchair if you are paralyzed from the waist down, which limits your ability to travel. If you are completely paralyzed, you may require the assistance of others every time you wish to go from one place to another.
- Your speech and your ability to think clearly and express yourself plainly may be impacted.
- You are most likely unable to play with your children or grandchildren in the manner you have been accustomed to. This may be difficult for you and your children and grandchildren to accept.
- Your ability to continue working is questionable. Employers are required, in most cases, to make reasonable accommodations for you if you are disabled in some manner. However, if reasonable accommodations would not enable you to perform the essential tasks of your job, the employer may not be required to retain you as an employee.
- You may not even be able to eat or drink on your own, without assistance.
All of this imposes a significant burden on you as well as your family. If your mobility is impaired, for example, a family member will need to assist you. If you cannot feed, bathe, or dress yourself, a family member will need to assist with this as well. If you were working and contributing to the household budget, your family will need to find additional sources of income to help make ends meet. While a number of these tasks can be performed by at-home nurses or other professional care providers, these require significant resources.
When you or a loved one suffers a spinal cord injury because of the negligence of another person or entity, you may be entitled to compensation to help you address the expenses and losses you and your family will undoubtedly experience.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Clinton
A spinal cord injury is an injury to the bundle of nerves that travels from your brain and down your back. It is protected by the spinal column. If this bundle of nerves is damaged by an injury, any bodily functions below the site of the injury can be impacted. For example, if you suffer a lower back injury and your spinal cord is impacted, you may have difficulty walking and/or controlling your bladder. Injuries to your spinal cord and neck can affect both your arms and your legs.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common ways in which Americans sustain injuries to their spinal cord include:
- Motor vehicle accidents: Car accidents or motorcycle accidents are (by far) one of the most common ways in which individuals suffer spinal cord injuries. The risk of spinal cord injuries dramatically increases when the victim ignores certain basic safety measures (like failing to wear a seatbelt or helmet). The Mayo Clinic estimates that about 35 percent of all spinal cord injuries in the United States each year are caused by motor vehicle accidents.
- Falls: A slip and fall in the store or tripping and falling down steps can cause catastrophic damage to your spinal cord. Damage can be especially severe if the victim is old – falls by individuals age 65 and older can even be fatal. About 25 percent of spinal cord injuries are caused by falls.
- Acts of violence: Being violently attacked can result in spinal cord damage. About 15 percent of spinal cord injuries occur because of acts of violence.
A very small percentage of spinal cord injuries in the U.S. are caused by diseases or conditions such as arthritis. This means that, in the vast majority of spinal cord injury cases, someone else’s actions and/or behaviors contributed to the spinal cord injury. When this occurs, this individual may be held responsible for the expenses and losses you and/or your family experience, such as:
- Medical costs and ongoing treatment needs;
- Lost wages;
- Lost future wages;
- Pain and suffering;
- Loss of enjoyment of life;
- Loss of value of household services.
Your spinal cord injury lawyer can evaluate your case and determine what compensation is available in your case and from whom such compensation may be sought.
Seek Help from a Clinton Spinal Cord Injury Law Firm
When you have been injured and you suspect your spinal cord has been injured, you may feel sharp, shooting pain, a “pins and needles” sensation in your extremities – or nothing at all. It is important that you seek prompt medical attention so that you have the best opportunity at mitigating and minimizing any damage to your spinal cord. As soon as you are able, try to write down the circumstances that led to your injury as well as the names and/or descriptions of any individuals who either saw the accident, assisted you after the accident, and/or provided you with medical care.
The Joye Law Firm can help you take this information and prepare a spinal cord injury claim for you. We will focus on the legal aspects of your case so you can focus on your recovery. Call our Clinton office today at (888) 324-3100, or you can contact us through our firm’s website.
