What Are a Few Types of Spine Injuries?
Spinal cord injuries are labeled complete or incomplete. A complete spinal cord injury causes permanent damage to the affected area and is likely to result in paralysis. An incomplete injury only partially damages the spinal cord. The degree of paralysis depends on the severity of the injury and the patient’s health and medical history.
Complete and incomplete injuries can happen anywhere along the spine. Medically, injuries are dividing into four categories:
- Cervical spinal cord injuries – affects the head and neck region above the shoulders
- Thoracic spinal cord injuries – affects the upper chest, mid-back, and abdominal muscle
- Lumbar spinal cord injuries – affects the hips and legs
- Sacral spinal cord injuries – affects the hips, back of thighs, buttocks, and pelvic organs
The type of injury you have and its severity will impact treatment and your maximum medical improvement.
Legal Actions for Spinal Cord Injury Victims
Whether you’ve been involved in one of the accidents discussed above or a different incident, when someone else’s actions result in harm to you, civil law lets you pursue a personal injury claim against the at-fault party. Doing so can be complicated, which is why it’s best to have a spinal cord injury attorney by your side.
When you reach out to an attorney from Thomas Law Offices, they will evaluate what you’ve been through and determine if you have a valid claim and what the chances are of you pursuing one successfully. In the event you choose to proceed, your lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation to determine what happened and why, as well as what you’ve suffered and lost.
Once your attorney has a solid case built on your behalf, they will file the necessary paperwork. If the opposing side is willing to talk, your lawyer will attempt to negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf. If settling is not possible, you have the option to pursue a claim in court. If you file a lawsuit, a judge or jury will ultimately decide the verdict.