Spinal cord injuries occur when blood or electrical signals are cut off between parts of the spinal column and the brain. These injuries often cause major life complications, including chronic pain and paralysis, changing the way that victims of accidents live their everyday lives. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury in Connecticut due to someone else’s negligence, meeting with an attorney from Wofsey Rosen can help you determine whether you have a legal right to compensation from the responsible party.
Complete and Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries
Physicians classify spinal cord injuries (SCI) as either a complete or incomplete injury. The difference between these classifications greatly affects the long-term prognosis and care needs, which are important factors in valuing personal injury claims.
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries
An incomplete injury means there is a partial interruption of communication between the spinal cord and brain. We see effects at the primary site of injury and all lower levels. Therefore, the lower the injury on the spinal cord, the more mobility and sensation victims typically retain. These injuries can range in implications from muscle weakness and changes in sensory sensations to dramatic motor control impairment, which can require extensive rehabilitation.
Due to the great range in severity of incomplete spinal cord injuries, calculating losses can require extensive medical expert testimony to predict the degree of future disability and required care.
Neurologists, rehabilitation specialists, and vocational experts may be consulted to assess a victim’s residual functional capacity and future care needs. Insurance companies and defense attorneys may try to minimize these damages, making a strong legal strategy with robust medical evidence essential to secure fair compensation.
Complete Spinal Cord Injuries
A complete SCI means that all communication between the spinal cord and the brain has been cut off below the level of injury. This leads to a total loss of control over the muscles and sensory function. A complete spinal cord injury is classified as a Grade A impairment on the American Spinal Injury Association’s (ASIA) Impairment Scale.
Complete SCIs often result in catastrophic impacts on a victim’s life. Legal claims resulting from these types of injuries should account for financial losses like the cost of lifelong care, home modifications, and specialized medical equipment. In addition, substantial non-economic damages must be considered for pain, suffering, and loss of life’s enjoyment. Working with a catastrophic injury attorney can help you calculate the full present and future value of complete SCIs.
Common Types of Spinal Cord Injuries by Location
The spinal column is composed of four main regions, and the location of the SCI determines the resulting type of paralysis and the extent of functional loss. The higher the injury on the spine, the more body systems that will be affected. The regions of the spine are cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral.
- Cervical Injuries (C1-C8 Vertebrae): Injuries affecting the neck region of the spinal column are often very severe, impairing or eliminating a person’s ability to breathe without assistance. Resulting paralysis can involve quadriplegia or the loss of function in all four limbs and the torso.
- Thoracic Injuries (T1-T12 Vertebrae): Injuries affecting the upper- and middle-back region of the spinal column often result in paraplegia, affecting the torso, hips, and/or legs. Arm and/or hand function are often preserved, but victims may be unable to return to work, even in a modified capacity.
- Lumbar Injuries (L1-L5 Vertebrae) and Sacral Injuries (S1-S5): Lower-back spinal injuries can cause paralysis and impairment in the hips and legs. Those who suffer a lumbar or sacral injury might be able to maintain some residual functional capacity, but will likely still face significant life changes, chronic pain, and continued need for specialized medical equipment.
Establishing Negligence and Damages in an SCI Claim
With injuries as severe and life-changing as SCIs, victims of accidents caused by someone else’s negligence must make sure to protect their legal right to compensation. Working with a Connecticut catastrophic injury lawyer can help accurately calculate potential settlement value, incorporating current losses and predicting future expenses and impacts.
To establish your claim, you need strong evidence supporting the responsible party’s negligence, as well as documentation to support your claimed losses. To do this, your attorney may call expert witnesses to speak on your behalf. They may discuss anticipated future medical needs, the injury’s effect on your ability to make money, and the impacts on your quality of life.
Call Wofsey Rosen For Support in Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim
If you sustained a type of spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve the financial support necessary to aid recovery and to regain quality of life as much as possible. Do not delay in getting started. Contact a catastrophic injury attorney at Wofsey Rosen today to begin building your claim.