Spinal cord injuries can be extremely debilitating and expensive to treat medically. The consequences often last throughout the victim’s life. To these problems legal uncertainties are also added. Therefore it is important to consult personal injury attorneys in Richmond if you or a loved ‌one experiences spinal damage in an accident.

The Legal Consequences of Spinal Injuries

Unfortunately, there are hidden legal problems that can arise in any spinal injury case. Legal problems often include the following issues:

• Adjusting to major lifestyle changes caused by spinal cord injuries
• Difficulty proving intentions in spinal injury cases
• Negligence or product defects that must be proved in spinal injury cases to maximize the compensation
• Hard to prove negligence in motor vehicle accidents when victims sometimes no longer possess full use of their faculties

Health Issues Involving Spinal Injuries

Spinal cord injuries consist of damages to the bundle of nerve cells in the spine that receive signals from the brain. Damage can be caused by direct spinal cord injuries or ancillary damage from broken bones and tissue damage of the spinal cord’s surrounding structures.

Damages to the upper level of the spinal cord can cause paralysis throughout most of the body. Conditions like tetraplegia and quadriplegia affect all limbs. Injuries that damage very few of the body’s nerve cells might result in a full recovery, but that is uncommon in spinal injuries. Spinal trauma most often results in temporary or permanent damage to sensation, strength, range of movement, and normal bodily functions.

The High Costs of Treating Spinal Injuries

The costs of treating spinal injuries can involve lifelong rehabilitation expenses, follow-up doctor visits, and expenses for wheelchairs and other mobility aids. Victims often require special housing, support equipment, and live-in caregivers.

The average cost of medical care and living expenses for an injured victim of age 25 runs about $3 million dollars. This estimate does not include loss of wages, property damages, and mental issues that spinal injuries frequently generate.

Managing the Legal Aspects of Spinal Injuries

Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney is always recommended in accident cases that result in spinal injuries. An expert lawyer can prove negligence on the part of the other driver who was responsible for the traffic crash. The lawyer can also investigate product defects and prove that the victim’s negligence was not a major factor in the injury.

Bear in mind that each case is different. While you can use precedent to get a general understanding of the situation, do not build your expectations solely on this. Make sure to go over the details of your case with the lawyer and find personalized solutions that fit your situation.

Spinal injuries can result in the following damages:

• Loss of movement and normal bodily functions
• Extreme pain in the back, neck, and shoulders
• Uncontrollable weaknesses, loss of balance, and inadvertent body spasms
• Changes in sexual function and desire
• Inability to feel heat, cold, and touch
• Impaired breathing
• Loss of bladder and bowel control
• The stinging sensation caused by nerve fibers in the spinal cord
• Loss of sensation or tingling in the hands, fingers, feet, or toes
• Unconsciousness and other symptoms of shock
• Oddly positioned neck, shoulders, or back
• Cognitive difficulties that include loss of focus, memory loss, and a decrease of interest in favorite activities

Expenses and lifestyle changes inevitably result from serious spinal injuries. Hiring a competent lawyer is the most important step to begin the recovery process.

The Bottom Line

If you have suffered from a spinal cord injury, there might be a long road to recovery stretching out in front of you. This should be your main focus. Having a legal team deal with your case takes off an extra burden from your shoulders and allows you to focus on your physical and mental health. During these times, do not hesitate to seek comfort from your loved ones. Allow them to be there for you and to help out.

Author: As a journalist, Leland D. Bengtson dedicated most of his career to law reporting. He aims to draw in the public and make people more interested in the field. He is active on multiple platforms to increase his outreach to the public. Leland tirelessly covers all types of legal issues, but he has a personal preference for medical malpractice. This is mainly because he witnessed the implications of medical malpractice on a family member.