Spinal Cord Injury/Paralysis

The spinal cord is the column of nerve tissue that handles messages between the brain and the rest of the body. It is housed in and protected by the bones (vertebrae) that run down the back from the head to the tailbone. Any injury to the spinal cord reduces or destroys the ability of the brain to communicate with the rest of the body, but the closer an injury is to the head, the more of the body that will be affected.

Common causes of spinal cord injuries include traffic accidents, falls, physical assault, and accidents at home, at work, outdoors, or while playing sports.

Spinal cord injuries are generally classified as either traumatic or non-traumatic, but both types can destroy the victim’s ability to lead a normal life. A traumatic spinal cord injury may result from a sudden blow to the spine that fractures, dislocates, compresses, or crushes the vertebrae. A non-traumatic spinal cord injury may stem from cancer, arthritis, disk degeneration, or infection.

A complete spinal cord injury results in paralysis, meaning the affected area of the body has lost all sensation and muscle control. Paralysis can involve the entire body below the neck (called quadriplegia or tetraplegia) or only the lower part of the body (called paraplegia).

Victims of a spinal cord injury caused by someone else’s negligence are entitled to compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, diminished earning capacity, lost income, and other costs and losses.

If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury as the result of someone else’s negligence and you’re not being treated fairly, you need an experienced attorney to sort out your case and protect your rights.

Contact Siegfried & Jensen today for a free consultation. We’re here for you.