Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are some of the most serious injuries that people can sustain and survive. In many cases, they leave victims with severe long-term medical issues that significantly impact their quality of life and ability to do things that they once took for granted. Fortunately, in many cases, spinal cord injury victims are able to recover compensation for their losses, so it’s critical that all SCI victims have their case reviewed by an experienced attorney.

What Causes Spinal Cord Injuries?

The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that runs from the brain down the length of your back that transmits nerve signals throughout your body.  Anything that causes trauma to the spinal cord or the spinal column (the vertebrae that surround the cord itself) can damage the nerves and cause a spinal cord injury. Some examples of accidents that are capable of causing SCIs include:

1. – Car accidents
2. – Slip and fall accidents
3. – Bicycle accidents
4. – Medical malpractice
5. – Pedestrian accidents
6. – Pool and spa accidents
7. – Recreational accidents
8. – Sports accidents

What are the Complications Associated with Spinal Cord Injuries?

The complications associated with spinal cord injuries depend largely on their initial severity and how quickly victims are able to get treatment. Spinal cord injuries can be grouped into complete and incomplete injuries. Incomplete spinal cord injuries, victims have no feeling below the site of the injury; in incomplete spinal injuries, victims retain some function and feeling below the site of injury.

Typically, complete spinal cord injuries result in permanent paralysis. The prognosis for incomplete spinal cord injuries is much better, with many victims regaining function and sensation in the affected body part. That said, even incomplete spinal cord injuries can result in significant and debilitating complications, including:

1. – Pain
2. – Numbness
3. – Muscle weakness
4. – Loss of range of motion

How Much Compensation Can Spinal Cord Injury Victims Recover?

Spinal cord injuries can profoundly affect victims lives and result in untold losses in terms of lost opportunity and quality of life. In addition, the economic losses of a spinal cord injury can easily reach millions of dollars over the course of victims’ lives. According to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, the estimated lifetime costs for a 25-year old with high tetraplegia are more than 4.7 million dollars.

When spinal cord injuries are the result of someone’s negligence, victims are typically entitled to recover compensation for all of their accident-related losses. The exact amount of compensation that victims can recover depends on their individual losses and other factors. An experienced attorney familiar with litigation arising from spinal cord injuries will be able to evaluate your case and let you know how much compensation you may be able to recover.

Call Wandres Law, PC, Today to Schedule a Free Consultation with a Tulsa Personal Injury Attorney

At Wandres Law, PC, we are dedicated to helping spinal cord victims obtain the compensation to which they are entitled under Oklahoma law.

To schedule a free case evaluation with a personal injury lawyer in Tulsa, call our office today at (918) 641-4044 or contact us online.

Spinal cord injuries are among the most devastating that a person can suffer. These are serious, often-debilitating, life-changing injuries that can affect not only the injured individual but their loved ones as well. Often, people who sustain spinal cord injuries require continuous medical care that can last for the rest of their life. If you live in Oklahoma and have suffered such injuries, it’s a good idea to retain an experienced spinal cord injury attorney such as Patrick Wandres at Wandres Law.

What is a Spinal Cord Injury?

A spinal cord injury can affect the spine itself and also the nerves along the spinal column. These injuries can result in a partial or full loss of sensation and motor control and can even leave victims paralyzed. Paralysis could occur in just the legs or even from the neck down, resulting in the individual being left a paraplegic or quadriplegic. People with spinal cord injuries are left with devastating after-effects as the spinal cord controls a wide range of bodily functions, including breathing, relieving oneself, sexual function and even breathing.

The Most Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are usually caused by trauma to the spine. They can also be caused by a blow to most parts of your back. Many of these injuries are caused by someone else’s negligence, permanently changing the quality of life of the victim. According to Mayo Clinic, the following are some of the most common:

1. Motor vehicle accidents: Motor vehicle accidents account for almost half of all new spinal cord injuries every year
2. – Falls: Overall, falls cause more than 15 percent of spinal cord injuries.
3. – Violent acts: Acts of violence account for almost 12 percent of spinal cord injuries, often involving knife wounds and gunshots.
4. – Recreational sports: Recreational activities such as impact sports and diving in shallow water, cause about 10 percent of spinal cord injuries.

These injuries can also be caused by medical errors during surgeries on the neck or back. In this case, the injuries would be the result of medical malpractice.

Why You Need an Attorney

Because of the complex and serious nature of spinal cord injuries, hiring an attorney is absolutely essential. A lawyer experienced in handling lawsuits involving these types of injuries can ensure that the person or institution responsible is held accountable and that you get the compensation you deserve for your medical expenses, ongoing treatment, pain and suffering, lost wages and other damages.

A spinal cord injury attorney can also help you to protect your family if you have a long road to recovery or cannot fully recover. Here are some of the expenses that can create massive financial burdens for families after a serious spinal injury:

– Post-Discharge Physical Therapy

– Home Modifications

– Adapted Vehicles/Driving Controls

– Standing Frames

– Fertility Treatments (Men)

Get in touch with Wandres Law at your earliest convenience to be connected with a lawyer who can help in your spinal cord injury case. We will work with you to prepare your case properly, striving for the maximum compensation for your injuries and any other damages.

For more information on our Tulsa Spinal Cord Injury Attorney, please visit our site.