According to The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, there are as many as 358,000 individuals in the United States living with a spinal cord injury (SCI). The spinal cord is the critical link that transmits information between the brain and the rest of the body, so any injury to it could result in severe and even life-threatening complications.
If you or a loved one suffered from a spinal cord injury due to another person’s negligence, consider contacting a Wylie spinal cord injury lawyer. Our experienced catastrophic injury attorneys approach each spinal cord injury case with professional diligence and could provide individualized attention to help you and your family pursue fair compensation for your losses.
The spinal column is approximately 18 inches long and extends from the base of the brain to just around the waist. It is divided into four sections: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. These bones support the body, but also protect the spinal cord. Inside the bones of the spine, there is a long fibrous tissue composed of nerves known as the spinal cord.
The spinal cord has the critical task of transmitting information from the brain to the rest of the body. Unfortunately, many spinal cord injuries permanently hamper or prevent this transfer of information from happening.
It could be critical to understand the anatomy of the spine when litigating a spinal injury case since precisely where such an injury occurs could greatly impact its severity. It is generally accepted that the body could be affected at any point below the injured portion of the spinal cord.
According to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), spinal cord injuries cost an estimated $9.7 billion each year. These costs are largely divided between emergency medical care and ongoing rehabilitation.
Many individuals require long-term care after a spinal cord injury. Fortunately, injured individuals may be able to seek restitution for these and many other losses through a civil case. A successful lawsuit could recover compensation for:
It is crucial to consider not only the initial medical cost of a spinal cord injury but also the future impact an injury could have on an individual and their family. A knowledgeable Wylie spine injury attorney could speak to medical professionals and determine an appropriate amount of compensation to seek for any such losses an injured individual suffers.
In order for a plaintiff to recover compensation, their attorney would need to prove negligence by the defendant in their case. Specifically, they would need to prove that the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff and then breached that duty of care in a way that directly caused injury or damage.
Injured individuals may be able to obtain some compensation even if they are partially at fault for the accident that caused them harm. Texas employs a theory of comparative negligence which would bar an individual from pursuing civil compensation only if they were more than 50 percent at fault for their injuries, according to Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §33.001(a). Injured individuals should speak to a skilled spinal cord injury lawyer in Wylie to understand the rules of negligence and how it may affect their claim. A dedicated lawyer could help an injured victim with establishing negligence.
Every spinal cord injury case is different and presents distinct issues for the injured individual and their family, so it may be important for you to seek individualized legal help. Our attorneys and staff understand that a spinal cord injury could have a monumental impact on you and your family physically, financially, and emotionally.
If you or a loved one have suffered a spinal cord injury, consider contacting an experienced Wylie spinal cord injury lawyer who could address your unique challenges and ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injury. Call today to get started.
McCraw Law Group