The Nation Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA) estimates there are close to 400,000 people in the United States currently living with spinal cord injuries. Another 17,000 people sustain spinal cord injuries each year. Unfortunately, spinal cord injuries can be caused by many types of accidents, from car wrecks to slip-and-falls. When a spinal cord injury is caused by someone else’s negligence, the victim may have a right to sue for compensation. An experienced attorney can help spinal cord injury victims recover compensation for pain and suffering caused by the injury as well as damages to compensate for the victim’s current and future medical expenses. If a victim suffers a permanent disability, compensation may be pursued for long-term care as well.
At the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, we do everything we can to improve the quality of life for victims of spinal cord injuries caused by the negligence of others. We aggressively pursue the long-term compensation required for medical care and replacement of earnings, plus damages for the personal toll on the victim and the family.
Personal injury is handled personally. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries often occur as a result of traffic accidents, sports accidents, falls, work-related accidents, or violence. Spinal cord injuries tend to occur in these types of accidents and incidents as a result of a severe impact. The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) lists the most common causes of spinal cord injuries as:
- Vehicle-related accidents – 38.6 percent.
- Falls – 32.2 percent.
- Acts of violence – 14 percent.
- Other/unknown – 3.2 percent
- Sports and recreation – 7.8 percent.
When a car accident occurs, it is not uncommon for occupants to be violently thrust forward, backward, or from side to side. This rapid motion can cause injury to the vertebrae and may sever nerves, ligaments, and tendons surrounding the spinal cord. Falls and sports activities may result in a violent impact or blow to the body that can cause fracturing, dislocation of discs, compression of vertebrae, and more. Physical abuse or assaults involving knives or guns can also cause permanent spinal cord damage, particularly when a blow or wound crushes a vertebra or severs the spinal cord.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Many spinal cord injuries lead to life-changing effects, such as an immediate change in mobility for the injured person. Even relatively “minor” injuries can cause lifelong pain and suffering, even if the victim does not suffer permanent paralysis.
Spinal cord injuries may cause either complete or partial paralysis. When an individual sustains a partial or incomplete spinal cord injury, it means that not all sensation and movement is lost. In these cases, the messages sent back and forth through the nerves in the spinal cord between the body and the brain are partially blocked.
Complete spinal cord injuries result in total loss of motor function and a lack of sensory function below the site of injury. It is important to note that a complete spinal injury does not necessarily mean an individual will never regain the ability to stand or walk, though such recoveries are rare. Spinal cord injuries are also categorized by which parts of the body they affect, including the following:
Quadriplegia (Also Called Tetraplegia)
A cervical spinal cord injury to the upper portion of the spinal cord (C1-C8) can lead to weakness or paralysis in both a person’s arms and legs. This is referred to as quadriplegia or tetraplegia, both of which loosely translates as “paralysis of four limbs.” This type of injury may also cause respiratory problems, bowel or bladder troubles, sexual dysfunction, and a loss of diminished physical sensation.
Paraplegia
When a spinal cord injury occurs at the thoracic level (T1-T12), lumbar level (L1-L5), or sacral level (S1-S5), it can lead to weakness or paralysis in the legs. This phenomenon is referred to as paraplegia. Some individuals may also experience a loss of physical sensation or problems with hips, bowel, bladder, or sexual function. Arms, hands, and the upper body are not affected by this type of spinal cord injury.
Paralysis Injury Lawyers in Long Island
At the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, we understand the unique impacts a paralysis injury can have on victims and their families. When you partner with us, we will do everything in our power to help you through the legal process and collect the compensation you deserve.
How Our Talented Paralysis Injury Lawyers Can Help You
After suffering a spinal cord or paralysis injury, pursuing justice on your own can seem impossible. If you are contending with paralysis due to an accident caused by another party’s negligence, do not hesitate to contact an experienced paralysis injury lawyer as soon as possible.
At the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, our attorneys have over 100 years of combined experience helping paralysis injury victims recover compensation for the full extent of their injuries and other accident-related losses. We aim to take the stress of the claims process off your shoulders so you can focus entirely on your healing and recovery. Some of the many ways our attorneys can help you include the following:
- Conducting a full investigation into your case
- Filing all paperwork correctly and on time
- Organizing your medical bills and other expenses
- Advocating aggressively for your rights and interests both in and out of court
- Negotiating with all parties on your behalf
- Collecting evidence and witness testimonies
- Guiding you through New York’s complex legal process
- Answering your legal questions and keeping you up to date on your case
Our attorneys pride themselves on personalizing their approach to every case to address each of our client’s unique needs.
Possible Damages Available Through a Paralysis Injury Claim
Following a severe accident that results in paralysis, victims often must endure an extended recovery period and pay expensive medical bills. If you have suffered a paralysis injury on Long Island, you should not be forced to foot the bill for your accident-related expenses. At the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, our attorneys have extensive experience helping paralysis injury victims recover the following damages:
- Current and future medical bills
- Prescriptions and medical devices
- Physical therapy
- Lost wages and earning potential
- Significant disfigurement or disability
- Pain and suffering
This is by no means an exhaustive list, and there may be other types of damages your lawyer can help you recover. Your attorney will review every detail of your case to help you pursue fair compensation for your current and future accident-related losses.
Speak to a Dedicated Spinal Cord and Paralysis Injury Lawyer on Long Island
Spinal cord and paralysis injuries are severe and can have a drastic impact on a victim’s daily life. If your spinal cord has been injured due to someone else’s negligence on Long Island, an experienced paralysis injury lawyer can help you pursue justice. The skilled attorneys at the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe have over a century of combined experience helping injury victims hold negligent parties accountable for the suffering they have caused. When you partner with us, we will fight tirelessly for your rights, interests, and the total value of your claim.
To schedule a free consultation with a member of our legal team, call us today at 516-358-6900
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For a free legal consultation with a Personal Injury lawyer serving Long Island, call 516-358-6900
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information and may not be applicable in your jurisdiction.
