Spinal Cord Injury
Some Serious Accidents Require the Skills of a New York Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
The spine and vertebrae allow us to move and are directly connected to internal organ and brain function. If the spinal cord is damaged, everything from our range of motion to our ability to communicate can be impacted, due to a long list of potential medical problems:
- Paralysis
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of bladder control
- Impaired sexual function
- Reduced sensation in outer extremities
- Impaired functionality of limbs
- Nerve damage and pain
- Inability to speak
- Hearing loss
- Blindness
What are the Most Common Types of Spinal Cord Injuries?
There are several main types of spinal cord injuries that are classified based on the location and the injury severity. These include:
- Complete spinal cord injury: This is a total loss of sensory and motor function below the level of the injury.
- Incomplete spinal cord injury: This is partial damage to the spinal cord, which leaves some sensory and/or motor function below the level of the injury.
- Tetraplegia (Quadriplegia): This can occur when there is a cervical spinal cord injury, which may result in loss of function in all four limbs.
- Paraplegia: This occurs when the spinal cord is damaged in the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral regions. It often results in paralysis and loss of sensation in the legs and lower body.
- Central cord syndrome: This type of injury affects the large, descending corticospinal tracts and results in greater upper limb impairment.
Symptoms of a spinal cord injury may include loss of movement, numbness or tingling, or loss of control of bodily functions. Treatment may involve surgery, medication, and rehabilitation (such as occupational or physical therapy).
How a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in New York Can Help You Obtain Justice
Spinal cord injury happens in an instant, in all types of situations-from car crashes and job-related accidents to slip and fall accidents and other premises accidents. Falling is a common cause of SCI, such as falls from heights on construction sites or kids falling from playground equipment. On occasion, it can be accompanied by traumatic brain injury, because the brain and spine are in such close proximity to each other. In some cases, a spinal cord injury is severe enough that it leads to the death of the victim, which may be grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit.
If you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury, seek the compassionate, trusted legal representation of a personal injury law firm that has been successfully representing victims for over 90 years. Call Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano, LLP toll-free today at (800) 692-3717 or contact us online for a free evaluation with a spinal cord injury lawyer. Every discussion is personalized and confidential, and there is no obligation. We help SCI victims across the NYC region, including Westchester, Rockland, Nassau and Suffolk counties.