If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury after being involved in an accident that was not your fault, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation. Spinal injuries can be extremely serious and the effects of a severe injury can be permanently debilitating. Here at PDA, we understand how life changing a spinal cord injury can be. Our compassionate team of legal experts will treat your case with dignity, investigating the circumstances of your accident and working tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve.
A spinal cord injury is any injury sustained to the spinal cord that disrupts the cord’s ability to transmit nerve signals to the limbs and other parts of the body. Injuries to the spinal cord can be described as being either incomplete or complete. In an incomplete spinal injury, some nerve signals are permitted to pass along the injured part of the cord, permitting some sensation and movement below the injury. With a complete spinal injury, however, all nerve signals are stopped, causing complete loss of function below the injury. Common consequences of spinal cord injury include paralysis, difficulty breathing and incontinence.
How are spinal injuries caused?
The majority of spinal injuries are the result of trauma sustained to the spine, such as during a car accident, a fall, an accident at home or at work, or a sport injury. Employers have a duty of care to their employees and must conduct regular risk assessments to identify and mitigate any hazards that could cause an employee to suffer a spinal cord injury in the work place. Other ways of reducing the risk of people suffering spinal cord injuries include adhering to road traffic laws and health and safety protocols when using the road or playing sports.
Victims who have suffered a spinal cord injury typically experience some form of physical disability. The extent of the disability depends entirely on where the injury is sustained. Quadriplegia is the term used to describe complete paralysis of the torso and all four limbs of the body, resulting in severe disability and difficulty breathing. Quadriplegia usually observed in victims who have sustained injuries to the top of the neck. Paraplegia, on the other hand, is paralysis of the lower limbs; it is usually accompanied by incontinence and is the result of injury to the lower spine. The effects of quadriplegia and paraplegia can be either full or partial; if the injury is incomplete, some nerve signals may be permitted to pass down the body, allowing some movement.
What is the treatment for spinal cord injuries?
In the past, spinal injury was regarded as a catastrophic injury by doctors and was rarely treated. Today, however, doctors have a more thorough understanding of spinal cord injuries and are able to take steps to reduce damage and help alleviate patient’s symptoms. Treatment immediately after the accident usually entails stabilising the spine to reduce inflammation and reduce the risk of further damage. Once the spine has been stabilised, surgery may be performed to further stabilise the spine and to reduce the amount of pain the victim will experience. Victims of spinal cord injury are usually prescribed physiotherapy rehabilitation to work their affected muscles and maximise their mobility. The treatment associated with spinal cord injury can be very expensive. Although physiotherapy is usually funded by the NHS, other treatments, such as experimental surgeries, usually aren’t. Similarly, the round-the-clock care that severely disabled individuals sadly require is extremely expensive and is usually paid for by the victim or the victim’s family. If you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury, you should make a claim as soon as possible. The courts will consider your case and grant a compensation amount that is relative to your disabilities and will help to cover the cost of any treatment (standard or experimental) that isn’t typically funded by the NHS.
How can PDA help me?
Our dedicated and professional team of solicitors are experts in the field of personal injury law, having helped hundreds of our clients to secure the compensation they deserve. We understand that spinal cord injury claims are extremely complex and have the knowledge required to push your claim forward. As your solicitor, we will be on hand at all times to answer your questions, provide advice, and help you through the difficulties of the investigation. Contact us today to speak to a member of your team and discuss your case by calling 01244 373373. Alternatively, fill out our online contact form and we will call you back at a time that is convenient for you.