No matter how they happen, spinal injuries impact the lives of victims and their families and can result in a lifetime of medical expenses. If you or a family member suffered an injury to the spinal cord in an accident, you may be able to file a lawsuit and get compensated for injuries and losses. If you are living in Northeast Philadelphia, contact the Heslin Law Firm to speak with an experienced lawyer about your case.
Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries happen when the spinal cord is damaged and can result in full or partial loss of motor control and sensation. Depending on the injury, victims can be paralyzed in the lower parts of their body or in all four limbs. The spinal cord is responsible for a wide array of bodily functions, including breathing, body temperature, bladder, etc. Accident victims can suffer from permanent and serious health problems as a result.
Causes
Injuries to the spine are usually because of a traumatic injury or big impact. The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center cites common causes as the following:
- Car accidents (motor vehicle crashes, responsible for 42.1% of spinal cord injuries)
- Falls (26.7%)
- Violent acts (gun shots, 15%)
- Sports related injury (7.6%)
Injuries to the spine can also happen during surgical procedures that involve the neck and back. In some cases, the injury may have been avoidable and could be a medical malpractice case.
Lawsuits
Most personal injury cases are based on a legal theory known as negligence. If your spinal cord injury was caused by negligence in a car accident or slip and fall, you will have to prove that the party you are suing could have demonstrated more care and, thus, prevented the accident.
If your injury was caused by defective products, such as faulty airbags or seatbelts, you may be entitled to compensation from the companies who designed, manufactured, and sold the product.
Defenses Used
Sometimes in these types of injury cases, the defendant might argue that the injured person’s own carelessness contributed to the accident, making the defendant not legally at fault for the victim’s injuries. For instance, many cases involve alcohol, so the defendant may argue that the injured person’s intoxication was the main cause of the accident and resulting injuries. This is known as comparative negligence.
There is also something known as “assumption of the risk.” This is when a person gets involved in a dangerous activity such as bungee jumping and suffers an injury. The defense will argue that the person chose to take part in an activity that was likely to cause harm and shouldn’t be entitled to compensation.
Getting Compensated for Spinal Cord Injuries
In these types of cases, compensation may go above and beyond reimbursement for incurred medical expenses because spinal cord injuries can have permanent and life-altering effects. Damages can also include payment for future medical expenses, therapy, and rehabilitation.
Get Help From a Northeast Philadelphia Lawyer
If you have been the victim of a spinal cord injury and are living in the city of Philadelphia, call the Heslin Law Firm for a free consultation with Founder, Gary Heslin. We offer free initial consultations and will let you know if you have a case. If you do, you can be assured that you have professionals working for you while you take the time to recover. Let us deal with the insurance companies. Contact us today.