Traumatic accidents can lead to severe and sometimes life-altering injuries. Bone fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal damage commonly occur after car accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, and work-related accidents. Spinal injuries, in particular, are complex because the spinal cord is the center of our body’s nervous system.
If you’ve suffered from a spinal injury after being in an accident, you’ll likely have significant medical bills in addition to other damages. You shouldn’t have to pay for these damages if someone else was responsible for your accident. A Chicago personal injury lawyer from Lane & Lane, LLC can investigate your case and help you go after the settlement you deserve.
There are many types of spinal cord injuries that doctors diagnose based on where in the spine the injury occurs and how severe the injury is. Minor spinal cord injuries may involve herniated discs or pinched nerves, while more severe injuries involve partially or fully severed spinal cords. Depending on where the cord is damaged, you may experience different symptoms.
Cervical spinal cord injuries occur at the top of the spine and are often the most severe. These injuries can result in loss of sensory or motor function and may cause paralysis. Thoracic spinal cord injuries occur in the middle to upper part of the spine. These injuries can affect the function of the mid-back, upper chest, and abdominal muscles.
Lumbar spinal cord injuries occur in the lower spine and can affect the hips and legs. Just below the lumbar spinal cord is the sacrum. Sacral spinal cord injuries affect the bladder, bowels, and sexual organs.
Many spinal cord injuries result from car accidents; however, a lot of spinal cord injuries also result from falls. When the body experiences a significant amount of force, whether from a collision or falling at the wrong angle, the spine can take a lot of pressure. Other situations that commonly result in spinal cord injuries include gunshot wounds, sports injuries, and medical complications.
If you can prove that someone else’s negligence caused your spinal cord injury, then you can begin calculating your damages and recovering a settlement. Your damages can include both financial and nonfinancial losses that you’ve suffered.
Financial losses may include things like medical expenses, property damage, and lost income from being out of work. Nonfinancial losses may comprise loss of enjoyment of life, scarring and disfigurement, emotional distress, loss of consortium, pain and suffering, and more.
A spinal cord injury can change the course of your life forever. Although a settlement may not fully heal you from your condition, the money can get you the best treatment possible and make life easier to live.
If you’re ready to move forward with your case, you can contact a Chicago personal injury lawyer from Lane & Lane, LLC by calling 312-332-1400 and scheduling a free consultation. You can also visit our website for more information.
