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Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord contains a tight collection of nerves that transmit all communications between the brain and the rest of the body. When these nerves are injured, no clear communication can occur. If the injury is serious enough, communication stops.
With an extreme injury to this nerve cluster, all brain communications
cease: the victim loses all sensory or motor function below the injury
site. These injury victims are either quadriplegic or paraplegic. With
grave injuries to the spinal cord, they may die.
The spinal cord is protected by a bony cavity called the spinal
(vertebral) column. The vertebral column is comprised of individual blocks
of bone called “vertebrae”. There are 7 vertebrae in the cervical
spine (neck); 12 in the thoracic spine (mid-back) and 5 in the lumbar spine
(lower back). Located between each vertebrae are inter-vertebral discs.
A disc consists of an outer ring of cartilage called the annulus fibrosis which surrounds the jelly-like inner portion called the nucleus pulposus. The nucleus of the disc acts as a shock absorber, absorbing the impact of the body's daily activities and keeping the two adjoining vertebrae separated. The disc can be likened to a doughnut: whereby the annulus fibrosis is similar to the dough and the nucleus pulposis is the jelly. If one presses down on the doughnut, the jelly will come out. If the jelly or nucleus pulposis is forced out of the doughnut/disc it may put pressure on the nerves located near the disc. This is called a “bulging” or “herniated” disc.
Victims of a fall, car accident or other type of accident often sustain herniated discs and/or fractured vertebrae. These injuries sometimes require surgery to repair and months of rehabilitation and physical therapy. Even non-surgical herniations in the back and neck can cause severe pain, loss of bladder and bowel function, radiculopathy ( pain radiating into the arms and legs) and an inability to participate in the daily activities of life.
Additionally, injuries to the neck or back that harm the spinal cord or discs can result in enormous amounts of economic damage including: past medical costs; future medical costs and past and future lost earnings. However, damages resulting from spinal cord injuries involve much more than medical expenses. For both the victim and his family, there is usually a devastating impact.
New York law provides for compensation for the victim of a spinal cord injury, as well as his family, when that injury is due to the fault of another. They may be able to recover medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, home health care or nursing home costs, as well as for pain and suffering, lost wages, lost future earnings, and emotional distress.
Successfully litigating a case involving spinal cord injuries is not simple. Experience in these matters can be crucial in settlement negotiation as well as trial.
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, herniated disc
and/or fractured vertebrae please contact the lawyers at HKPD for a free,
initial consultation. An experienced HKPD personal injury lawyer
is available to assist you, 24 hours per day / 7 days per week.
We have experience in dealing with spinal cord injury cases,
and we’re here to help.