Orlando Spinal Cord Injury Attorney
What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?
A spinal cord injury refers to damage to a critical portion of the central nervous system. An injury to the spinal cord may cause damage to the fiber tracts responsible for carrying motor signals and sensation to the brain and other parts of the body. Any injury to the spinal cord may result in catastrophic damage and permanent damage with life-altering consequences.
Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
There are many different disorders and conditions that can cause irreversible spinal cord injury. Traumatic injury to the spine can be caused by any of the following events:
- Automobile crashes
- Motorcycle wrecks
- Falls
- Diving accidents
- War injuries
- Gunshots
Other factors that may damage the spinal cord include the following:
- Developmental disorders
- Infectious conditions
- Iatrogenic injuries, including after spinal injections or epidural catheter placement
- Spondylosis
- Tumors
- Vascular disorders
- Vertebral fractures relating to osteoporosis
Spinal Cord Injury Classifications
The level of injury to the spinal cord is based on thorough physician evaluation including neurologic and musculoskeletal assessment. Physicians may use various terms to characterize the extent or severity of spinal cord damage. The American Spinal Injury Association and the International Spinal Cord Injury Classification System provide standardized systems of classification for spinal cord damage.
Serious and permanent spinal cord injury may result in paralysis, respiratory complications, heart disease, infection and death. Victims of traumatic spinal cord injury often struggle with depression, drug addiction and suicidal thoughts.
Different Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are serious and can lead to a range of physical and mental effects, dependent on the severity and type of injury. The two most common types of spinal cord injury include complete and incomplete.
Complete spinal cord injury occurs when there is a total loss of sensation and movement below the point of injury while an incomplete spinal cord injury refers to an instance where some function remains below the area of trauma. Severe pain, paralysis, loss of bladder control and bowel movements, chronic fatigue, joint muscle degeneration, as well as tendency to develop breathing difficulties are just some of the serious consequences that can occur due to such injuries.
It’s imperative that those recovering from spinal cord injuries have a good support system in place throughout the recovery process.
Damages You Can Receive for Spinal Injuries
Spinal injuries can have severe life-altering consequences. Fortunately, those affected may be able to receive financial compensation for medical expenses, emotional pain and suffering, or even lost wages due to the injury. Depending on the stakes involved, this compensation could reach the tens of thousands of dollars or more.
However, recovering just compensation is not always a straightforward process, as many factors affect the ultimate outcome of a settlement. Knowing what types of damages you may be entitled to can be an immense help in receiving fair payment. To ensure that these victims are compensated fairly by insurance companies, attorneys specializing in spinal-injury law should be consulted.
At Michael Barszcz, M.D., J.D., we care about taking care of your legal rights in the aftermath of a severe spinal cord injury. Trust our team to help you when it matters most.
Call us at (407) 305-6088 and learn how we can help you!
Verdicts & Settlements
Over $120 Million Recovered For Clients-
$280,000
Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) – injury to ureter during surgery leads to removal of kidney.
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$312,500
Motor vehicle accident causes neck injury with resulting surgery.
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$775,000
Improper medication prescribed for patient with asthma leads to death.