What Does It Mean if Someone Has a Spinal Cord Injury?

Spinal cord injuries can affect people differently depending on how severe the injury was. A spinal cord injury consists of damage to the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal. Medical professionals categorize spinal cord injury as complete or incomplete.

A complete injury results in paralysis and the inability to control movement. With an incomplete injury, there is still some feeling and motor control function.

What are the causes of spinal cord injuries?

The National Spinal Cord Injury Center has gathered statistics that indicate various causes of injury. Their results were as follows:

1. 08% — Vehicular Accidents (including automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, ATV, aircraft, snowmobile, boat and other types of vehicles)
2. 54% — Falls (slipping, tripping and stumbling; fall from or through building structure; fall on stairs, from ladder, in bathtub or shower, from one level to another, from tree, bed, on ice and snow, etc.)
3. 41% — Violence (gunshot wounds, assault, penetration wounds such as explosion or stabbing or impalement)
4. 57% — Other (medical/surgical complication, hit by falling object, pedestrian, machinery accidents)
5. 39% — Sports and recreations (diving, winter sports, snow skiing, horseback riding, football, parachuting, hand gliding, parasailing, trampoline, wrestling, gymnastics, rodeo, baseball, hockey, soccer, lacrosse, rugby, water skiing, basketball, volleyball, skateboarding, track and field)

What Are Your Legal Rights in a Spinal Cord Injury Case?

If someone else’s negligence caused your injury, you may have grounds to take legal action. You would have the right to recover damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost income, future lost income and other related damages.

Because time limitations exist, it is important to seek legal counsel as soon as possible.

At Sackstein Sackstein & Lee, LLP, we offer a free initial consultation to discuss the injury and the prospects of taking legal action.