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Spinal cord victims often have a long list of lifelong complications, pain, and even paralysis after their accident. There are currently 276,000 people living with spinal cord injuries (SCIs), and about 12,500 Americans have an SCI every year, according to The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center at UAB. Males make up 80 percent of victims, and the average age is 42 years old.
The leading cause of spinal cord injuries is auto collisions, which account for an astounding 38 percent of all SPIs. If you or a loved one has suffered a spine-related injury due to another person’s negligence, consult with a California spinal cord injury lawyer to seek damages and hold the negligent party responsible. Our experienced attorneys can assist in filing a catastrophic injury claim in California and ensure you know what to expect at each step of the legal process.
Common Causes and Symptoms of Spine Injuries Our California Spine Injury Lawyers Could Claim Damages For
Vehicular accidents in California are currently the most common cause of spinal cord injuries, accounting for approximately 39 percent of new cases in the last ten years. However, people sustain spinal cord injuries in many ways, including:
- Through a serious slip-and-fall accident;
- While playing sports;
- Motor vehicle accidents;
- Assault and other acts of violence, such as gunshot wounds and
- Diseases.
While some spinal cord injuries may manifest themselves immediately, others will not. If you are involved in an accident and experience any of the following symptoms, you could have a spine injury and should consult with a California spinal cord injury attorney to discuss your next steps:
- Difficulty breathing after being injured;
- Loss of control over bladder or bowel movements;
- A numbness, tingling or loss of sensation in your extremities;
- Intense pain or pressure in your neck, head, or back; and
- Trouble balancing while walking or paralysis of any body part.
Whether or not you have any of these emergency signs, anyone who has experienced significant trauma to their head or neck should seek immediate medical attention. In fact, until a doctor has completed a medical evaluation, spinal injuries should be assumed in trauma victims until proven otherwise.
Types of Injuries Our Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys Represent in California
The spinal cord is a cylindrical bundle of nervous tissue that connects the brain to the rest of the body, forming the central nervous system. It originates at the medulla oblongata in the brainstem and extends to the lumbar of the the vertebral column. The spinal cord is one of the most vital systems in the body – without it the brain would not be able to communicate with the rest of the body.
Damage to the spinal cord in the form of bruising, stretching, pressure, or laceration can cause loss of feeling below the injury, hand or foot paralysis, paraplegia, quadriplegia, or even full body paralysis below the sight of the injury, depending the severity of damage. There are a variety of injuries that cause spinal cord damage, among the most common that California spinal cord injury lawyers see are the following:
Flexion
A flexion injury occurs when there is a violent force that slams the head forward suddenly, such as whiplash in a car accident. This injury can break the vertebrae of the neck, which affects the spinal column in the same area.
Rotation
Rotation injuries often coincide with flexion. The rotation of the spinal cord causes damage in the form of tearing. An example of this is when a car is struck from the side or rolls over.
Compression
A compression injury is the result of compressing the spinal cord. A force administered to the top of the head, or if the victim takes a large fall, causes the vertebrae to shatter into pieces and puncture the spinal cord. Compression can also happen even if no vertebrae are shattered; simply displacing the vertebrae discs can cause them to interfere with the spinal cord, causing damage.
Hyperextension
Hyperextension happens when the victim’s neck is forced backwards, which stretches the spinal cord. Stretching alone, along with vertebrae being opened at the discs, causes severe injury. The spinal column itself might not be damaged (the absence of fractured vertebrae or severed spinal cord), but this stretching, along with vertebrae being opened at the discs, causes severe injury and should be handled with the assistance of a California spinal cord injury attorney.
Penetration
Penetration happens when a foreign object such as a knife or shard of glass or metal penetrates the spinal column and severs the cord. Penetration usually does not coincide with damaged vertebrae.
A victim of a spinal injury may experience life-altering effects that impact all facets of their existence. Our skilled California spinal cord injury lawyers can help you if you or a family member suffered a spinal cord injury because of someone’s negligence or wrongdoing. Our goal at Sargent Law is to hold those at fault accountable and fight for the money you need to pay for your medical bills, missed income, and the ongoing expenditures of living with such a severe injury. Make an appointment for a consultation with us right now to begin the process of reconstructing your life with reliable legal assistance.
If you’ve been injured or a loved one has been killed through an act of negligence, you need the highest level of legal representation.
Schedule a Free ConsultationConsequences of Traumatic Spinal Injuries That Give You Grounds for a California Spinal Injury Claim or Lawsuit
Spinal cord injuries prevent the brain from communicating with your body parts and as a consequence limit the ability the control you have over your limbs. The limitation depends on where along the spinal cord the injury is and how severe trauma was, the worst case being a complete severing of the spinal cord. Injuries are referred to as either complete, where you have no sensory or motor functions below the spinal cord injury, or incomplete if you still have some remaining motor or sensory function below the affected region.
All persons affected by spinal cord injury experience at least some of the following symptoms:
- Loss of movement, including complete or partial paralysis as in quadriplegia or paraplegia
- Loss of sensory function, such as the ability to feel heat, cold, and touch
- Spasms or exaggerated reflex activities
- Lack of bowel or bladder control
- Pain/stinging sensation due to nerve fiber damage
- Changes in sexual function, sensitivity, and fertility
- Problems breathing, coughing, or clearing lung secretions
The consequences of spinal injury, of course, go far beyond the physical or medical effects. Those who sustain spinal injuries learn to live life within the limitations of their injury. They may lose their ability to earn wages, support their family, go through extensive pain and suffering, and endure many other devastating long-term effects.
At Sargent Law, our skilled spinal injury lawyers in California are committed to helping you seek compensation for the profound physical, emotional, and financial impacts of your injury. We understand the exceptional challenges faced by spinal injury victims and work tirelessly to secure the resources needed for medical care, rehabilitation, lost income, and long-term support. Contact our experienced California spinal cord injury attorneys today to discuss your case and begin your journey toward justice and recovery.
How a California Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Can Help
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident that resulted in a damaged spinal cord, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost income, and future medical costs. Call a California spinal cord injury lawyer today to begin discussing your legal options. At The Sargent Firm Injury Lawyers, our attorneys have extensive experience dealing with auto accidents, personal injury, and spinal damage.
Our California Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys Thoroughly Investigate Your Case
At The Sargent Firm Injury Lawyers, our experienced spinal cord injury attorneys in California leave no stone unturned when investigating your case. We gather evidence, interview witnesses, review accident reports, and consult with other professionals to build a strong case on your behalf. Even if you are partially at fault, California’s comparative negligence law still permit you to seek compensation, and we are here to fight for every dollar you deserve.
We Negotiate Settlements or Take Your Case to Court
Our California injury attorneys are skilled negotiators who work tirelessly to secure fair settlements with insurance companies. If the insurer refuses to a satisfactory settlement, we are fully prepared to take your case to court. Whether through strategic negotiation or aggressive litigation, we are committed to achieving the best possible outcome for your spinal cord injury claim in California.
No Fees Unless We Win Your Case
We believe everyone should have access to quality legal representation. That’s why we work on a contingency fee basis—you don’t pay any upfront costs or legal fees unless we secure compensation for you.
Our Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Represent Clients Throughout California
Our spinal cord injury attorneys in California proudly serve the interests of clients in San Diego, Oceanside, Temecula, and across the Golden State. If you’re searching for “a spinal cord injury attorney near me,” give us a call—we are ready to find solutions for you no matter where you are located. Let us help you manage this challenging time and secure the compensation you deserve. Reach out today for a free consultation!
Contact Our California Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Before Time Runs Out!
It’s critical to take immediate action if you have experienced a spinal cord injury in California. In the Golden State, there are usually just two years from the date of the injury to initiate a case due to the state’s statute of limitations. You may forfeit your right to pursue damages if you miss this deadline.
At Sargent Firm Injury Lawyers, our spinal cord injury attorneys in California understand the importance of moving swiftly to protect your legal rights. Building a strong case takes time, as it involves gathering evidence, consulting with experts, and negotiating with insurance companies.
So don’t wait until it’s too late—call us today for a free consultation. Wherever you’re located in California, our dedicated legal team is ready to help you fight, so call us today and let us preserve your future!
