Hurst Spinal Cord Injury Attorney
Spinal Cord Injuries from an Accident
There are few things that impact the quality of life like a spinal cord injury. Damage to the spinal region can result in paralysis, reductions in motor skills, and chronic pain. In addition to the trauma and life-altering consequences of a spinal cord injury, there are financial consequences. Victims of spinal cord injuries may face months, years, or a lifetime of medical interventions. Surgical procedures, ongoing rehabilitative therapies, and alterations to the home environment can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses. If your spinal cord injury was the result of negligence on the part of another person or entity, you need a highly experienced Hurst spinal cord injury attorney in your corner.
A Hurst spinal cord attorney from Noteboom—The Law Firm, can make a significant difference in the outcome of your injury. Our attorneys aggressively represent Hurst residents (as well as residents across the state of Texas) who have suffered a spinal injury. We will work with medical specialists to establish the extent of your injuries, determining the level of future treatments required. When necessary, we will retain a rehabilitation and/or economic expert to determine how the injury impacts your future earning capacity. The Noteboom attorneys prepare every case as though we are going to trial.
What is a Spinal Cord Injury?
Damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal constitutes a spinal cord injury. Spinal cord injuries are often the result of a sudden blow or cut to the spine. A spinal cord injury can cause chronic, severe pain, or can cause temporary or permanent loss of function, sensation, and strength below the injury site.
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, it is estimated that there are approximately 296,000 individuals living with a spinal cord injury in the United States, making it a relatively rare—yet extremely life-altering—injury. In the 1970s, the average age for a spinal cord injury was 29 but by 2015, that average age had increased to 43.
The vast majority of spinal cord injuries are among males, and vehicle crashes and falls are the leading causes of spinal cord injuries (followed by acts of violence and sports injuries). Spinal cord injuries can also be the result of injuries sustained while at work, particularly on a construction site or oilfield site.
Having an experienced spinal cord injury attorney by your side from start to finish can change the financial outcome of your spinal cord injury. An experienced Noteboom attorney will ensure you receive all necessary treatments. We will also ensure those treatments are fully covered, and that your lost wages and pain and suffering will be factored into your settlement.
How Can a Spinal Cord Injury Affect the Body?
Spinal cord injuries can cause a wide array of symptoms, including:
- Muscle weakness
- Difficulty with coordination
- Loss of movement below the injury
- Alterations in sensation, including the inability to feel cold, heat, or touch
- Loss of bladder and bowel control
- Overactive reflexes
- Sweating and feeling faint
- Muscle spasms
- Difficulties with fertility and sexual function
- Nerve fiber damage resulting in pain or intense stinging sensations
- Shortness of breath and other difficulties with lung functions, including coughing, breathing, and clearing secretions
Serious spinal cord injuries can alter your life in many different ways. These injuries can also alter the lives of your loved ones. While money will not change the accident or your injuries, it can allow you to obtain the medical treatment you need. Money can also ensure your family will be able to pay normal monthly expenses based on your future lost wages. Finally, you may be compensated for your pain and suffering. Pain and suffering can include actual physical pain as well as mental trauma you experience as a result of your spinal injury.
How Does a Spinal Cord Injury Appear Following an Accident?
If you are involved in an accident—even a relatively minor accident—and have any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
- Significant pressure in the back, head, or neck
- Extreme pain in the back, head, or neck
- Lack of coordination or balance issues
- Weakness in any part of your body
- Loss of sensation in your extremities
- Tingling or numbness in the extremities
- An oddly positioned or “twisted” back or neck
- Difficulty breathing following the injury
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
The Importance of Obtaining Medical Treatment Following an Injury
If you have any of the symptoms above or have any reason to think you might have injured your spine, it is imperative that you seek medical treatment immediately. In many cases, waiting on medical care can cause the injury to worsen significantly. For severe spinal cord injuries, it is imperative that the victim is immobilized to prevent further injury. Diagnostic tests for spinal cord injuries may include a CT scan, MRI, or X-ray. These tests can allow the doctor to check for any abnormalities along the spinal cord.
Following these initial tests, a follow-up neurological exam will likely be scheduled for a few days after the accident. This allows any swelling to subside, giving the physician a better chance at an accurate diagnosis. The physician will test sensory functions, strength, muscle movement, and reflexes at this time, noting any deficiencies. This examination allows the physician to determine whether the damage is to the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, or sacral vertebrae. Each section of the spine corresponds to groups of nerves in specific areas of the body.
How a Hurst Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Near You Can Help
A knowledgeable spinal cord injury attorney from Noteboom—The Law Firm, will definitively show the damage to the spine was from the accident, rather than a pre-existing condition. While proving liability is key to recovery, it must also be shown that all incurred medical expenses were directly linked to the injury from the accident. Our attorneys have extensive experience in personal injury and in spinal cord injuries. We are ready and able to see your case through from beginning to end.
We have been helping people just like you since 1982, so we know the exact approach that will make the insurance company sit up and take notice. We take great pride in our track record; we take only a limited number of cases at any given time to ensure each client receives highly personalized, highly effective representation. We take the time to stay in regular contact with you throughout the process and can answer all your questions in a comprehensive, yet understandable manner. If you have suffered a spinal injury, you need an experienced attorney. Contact Noteboom—The Law Firm, today!