When a Traumatic Injury Leads to Paralysis
Despite extensive research in the area, medical science has not yet found a way to reverse damage to the spinal cord. Many victims of spinal cord injuries will suffer a lifetime of reduced mobility, health issues, and even paralysis, in extreme cases. These injuries are the result of a range of accidents, from traffic collisions to serious falls. Sadly, many of these events are fully avoidable when negligence or carelessness is involved.
While we cannot turn back the clock and prevent this tragic incident from happening to you, the Boulder spinal cord injury attorneys at the Tenge Law Firm, LLC can provide sound legal representation after an accident. If another individual’s recklessness resulted in a spinal cord injury, then we can prepare a detailed Boulder personal injury claim to recover any related costs, from medical bills to pain and suffering. Contact our law office at (303) 665-2929 to schedule a free initial consultation.
What Are the Different Types of Spinal Cord Injury?
The spine is a complex series of bone, muscles, ligaments, and nerves. Each aspect of this region of the body works together to allow you to move, to feel, and to control a variety of bodily functions, like breathing and bladder control. After an accident, a medical professional needs to fully evaluate your spine for any loss of function, which can range from chronic pain to paralysis. When assessing the extent of the damage, your medical report will include the specific type of spinal cord injury you have suffered.
COMPLETE OR INCOMPLETE SPINAL CORD INJURY
Depending on the degree of damage, spinal cord injury can be complete or incomplete. With complete spinal cord injuries, there is no feeling or ability to control the muscles below the level of the injury. Individuals who suffer an incomplete spinal cord injury have some sensory or motor function below the level of the injury, in widely varying degrees.
PARAPLEGIA OR TETRAPLEGIA
The location of the injury on the spine determines the extent of paralysis. When the legs, pelvic organs, and all or part of the torso are affected, the condition is referred to as paraplegia. When paralysis affects the legs, pelvic organs, torso, arms, and hands, the condition is known as tetraplegia or quadriplegia.
The Impact of a Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injuries can cause partial or complete loss of sensation and ability to control movement below the level of the injury. For people with paraplegia who are impaired below the waist, this could mean a lifetime spent in a wheelchair. Individuals with high tetraplegia, who are unable to feel or move from the neck down, usually require assistance with breathing, bladder control, and bowel function. Paralysis caused by a spinal cord injury can have serious long-term health complications, from pressure sores to osteoporosis to cardiovascular disease.
What Are the Damages Associated with Spinal Cord Injury?
The costs associated with spinal cord damage are far more extensive than most other injuries and can include:
- Medical expenses, past and future
- Physical rehabilitation
- In-home care
- Adaptive equipment, such as motorized wheelchairs and specially designed vehicles
- Modifications to your home
- Pain and suffering, both physical and emotional, suffered throughout a lifetime
- Lost income and loss of earning potential, if impairment affects the victim’s career
- Loss of consortium (love, affection, companionship, and sexual relations with one’s spouse)
When preparing a claim, our Boulder catastrophic injury attorneys will take into account every aspect of your life that has been affected by your injury. Generally, these types of costs are placed into two categories: economic, meaning they have a financial loss attached to them, and non-economic, which includes the more tangible aspects of your injury, such as emotional trauma. Both are considered in your case to ensure not a single cent is left out of your settlement.
Holding the Responsible Parties Accountable
Spinal cord injuries are often the result of severe trauma. If the cause is determined to be the fault of a negligent individual, such as a property owner, a driver, or a careless corporation, then they would hold responsibility for your injuries – and any related costs. But when you file a personal injury claim, you will have to deal with an insurance company that is often not interested in paying out full compensation. Filing a claim for spinal cord injuries that are the product of negligence requires an in-depth understanding of Colorado law, from how insurance policies operate to what types of compensation can be recovered.
At the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, our Boulder spinal cord injury attorneys have handled multiple cases where victims were left destitute after tragic accidents and have successfully recovered tens of millions of dollars in compensation on their behalf. Do not go head to head with an insurance company on your own. Instead, let our experienced personal injury attorneys shoulder the burden of your case and give you a fair shot at recovery. Call us at (303) 665-2929 to schedule a free consultation with a compassionate and knowledgeable law firm.