Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

When you called the dude ranch to sign up for a trail ride, the woman assured you that her horses were gentle and reliable. Out on the trail, the horse you were riding was hard to handle and a bit wild. Suddenly, he shied and threw you. When you tried to get up and dust yourself off, your legs refused to move. The hard landing did something to your spine, and you ended up in ER. Worried and in pain, you called a spinal cord injury attorney for advice.

What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?

Your spinal cord is a thick rope of nerves encased within your bony spinal column. If you experience trauma, you may crack some of the vertebrae, which could press against or sever the nearby nerves. You could also injure a disc in your spine, causing numbness and pain.

If you still have some movement, your spinal cord injury is called incomplete. If you cannot move your body below the level of the injury, it is said to be complete. For example, if the injury were in your lower back, your legs would be paralyzed. If it occurred in your upper back or neck, you would be paralyzed from the neck down. In such circumstances, a spinal cord injury attorney may be able to help.

What Treatments Are Available?

A spinal cord injury qualifies as an emergency, requiring immediate medical care. In such a situation, you should not move or allow anyone to move you because it may exacerbate the damage. EMTs have the specialized equipment and training to immobilize you for safe transport to the hospital.

Your doctor may perform surgery to remove excess fluid, bone fragments or foreign objects, easing the pressure at the injury site. If misaligned vertebrae are putting pressure on your spinal column, your physician may put you in traction to promote realignment and diffuse the pressure points. An injection of the steroid methylprednisolone within eight hours of the accident can mitigate nerve cell damage and inflammation.

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries sometimes result from the negligence or intent of another person, rendering that person liable to pay for your damages. Some incidences that might qualify for such compensation include:

• A poorly trained, skittish rental horse throwing a novice rider
• A distracted driver causing a collision
• Unsafe conditions at construction site causing an accident
• An assailant dealing a blow to your neck
• A jittery hunter who shoots you, assuming you are a deer

What Kinds of Damage Are Eligible for Compensation?

An experienced spinal cord injury attorney is the best resource when it comes to determining present and future financial damages, but a spinal cord injury is potentially quite costly regarding treatment and ongoing care. In general, the types of damages you could recover from the responsible party include medical expenses, loss of current and future earnings, disability if applicable, pain and suffering, physical therapy costs, the cost of specialized mobility equipment, loss of enjoyment of life and loss of consortium with your spouse.

A Spinal Cord Injury Attorney at Rizio Lipinsky Heiting Can Help

Whether you are recovering from a spinal cord injury or incapacitated for life, you are entitled to compensation from the person or entity responsible. At Rizio Lipinsky Heiting of California, we understand the issues you face and are committed to helping you get the full compensation you deserve. Fill out our contact form or call us now at 888-292-8888 to schedule your free initial consultation.