Las Vegas Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers

Few accident-related injuries are as traumatic as a spinal cord injury (SCI). Damage to the spinal cord may often be irreversible and lead to paralysis, resulting in partial or complete loss of mobility and sensation. Paraplegia and tetraplegia are both severe disabilities that can profoundly impact an individual’s life and financial stability.

After an accident, an experienced Las Vegas spinal cord injury attorney can seek the maximum compensation you deserve for your injuries and damages.

What is a Spinal Cord Injury?

The spinal cord is a critical structure of the central nervous system. It transmits nerve signals between the brain and the rest of the body, enabling sensation and movement. It is found within the vertebral column and plays a key role in controlling autonomic functions, sensation, and movement. When trauma to the spinal cord occurs, it may often lead to severe and often irreversible consequences. This may include impaired bodily functions, loss of sensation, and paralysis.

What are the Consequences of a Spinal Cord Injury?

Damage to the spinal cord may disrupt the brain’s ability to control various body systems and parts. Loss of sensation or movement due to nerve damage occurs from the site of injury below the spine and along it. For instance, a cervical spinal cord injury may lead to a loss of function in the shoulders and extend throughout the rest of the body, while a sacral SCI may affect the legs and hips.

What is the Difference Between a Partial or Complete Spinal Cord Injury?

Spinal cord injuries are classified as either complete or partial. A partial SCI is one where there is some movement and sensation below the site of injury that is retained, potentially on one side of the body. Complete SCI cases are those involving paralysis, and despite advancements in treatments that can manage specific symptoms, the damage is often irreparable and permanent.

How Common are SCIs?

Literature suggests that most spinal cord injury cases occur from preventable causes, such as motor vehicle collisions. In the United States alone, approximately 17,000 new SCI cases are reported annually. The age group with the highest risk of a spinal cord injury is between 16 and 30 years. Understanding the losses associated with a SCI is essential for comprehending the long-term financial impact on patients and their families.

Case Study on Patients Living with Spinal Cord Injuries

According to a case study conducted by Malekzadeh, et. al, the lifetime costs for living expenses and health care for a patient with a SCI vary:

• Acute Care: About $290 to $612,000
• Inpatient Rehab: Approximately $19,000 to $443,000
• One Year Post-Injury: Roughly $32,000 to $1.15 million
• Years Following SCI: Around $4,400 to $251,000

Of the reported costs, variations were noted primarily due to factors such as timeframes, study populations, cost definitions, research location, and neurological level of spinal cord injury.

Classification and Diagnosis of Spinal Cord Injuries and Resulting Paralysis

When diagnosing a spinal cord injury, physicians specify the spinal regions. This includes the sacral, lumbar, thoracic, and cervical. The affected vertebrae are identified using abbreviations and numbers, such as T2 or C5. Paralysis is commonly categorized as follows:

• Tetraplegia: Also known as quadriplegia, this impacts the pelvic organs, legs, hands, arms, trunk, and shoulders. This often results from a SCI affecting the cervical spine.
• Paraplegia: This may affect part or all the pelvic organs and/or legs. Paraplegia is often caused by damage to the sacral, lumbar, or thoracic regions of the spinal cord.

Common Symptoms of Paralysis After an Accident

Individuals who are paralyzed may experience the following symptoms:

• Sexual dysfunction, including infertility
• Challenges in regulating respiration, increasing the likelihood of lung issues such as pneumonia
• Bladder and bowel dysfunction, increasing the risk of bladder or kidney stones, kidney infections, and urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Depression caused by significant lifestyle changes, difficulty with activities of daily living (ADLs) due to impaired motor function, and ongoing pain
• Difficulty regulating blood pressure and circulation, which raises the risk of blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism

Damages in a Spinal Cord Injury Case

The goal of an injury attorney is to ensure that their client is not left in financial hardship and can care for themselves following a traumatic injury. Depending on the facts and circumstances of the situation, an experienced Las Vegas spinal cord injury lawyer may seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages, including:

• All medical expenses from the date of accident-related injuries and future anticipated costs
• Lost earnings from the date of the crash and future income lost from permanent disability caused by the injury
• Loss of consortium for the impact on a marital relationship and the inability to conceive children resulting from a SCI
• Out of pocket costs are recoverable if a spinal cord injury requires assistive devices or home modifications like lifts and ramps
• Pain and suffering accounting for the emotional suffering and the physical pain the plaintiff has experienced because of the SCI and other injuries from the accident

At Southwest Injury Law, we handle every aspect of your accident case. With strong evidence supporting your SCI case, we file claims with the appropriate insurance companies, negotiate for full compensation, and take cases for favorable results. Learn more by calling us or messaging us online.

Does Car Insurance Cover Spinal Cord Injuries?

Auto insurance plays an important role in personal injury cases as it determines the resources available for losses incurred. Available coverage, including bodily injury liability coverage and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, significantly influences the compensation that can be recovered. It is important to review your policy and ensure that you have sufficient UM/UIM coverage in the event of a crash causing serious injury, such as those of the spinal cord.

How Our Law Firm Can Help with a Spinal Cord Injury Case

If you or a family member has sustained a SCI resulting in any level of paralysis from an accident due to someone’s negligence, our Las Vegas-based personal injury law firm is here to help you seek the maximum compensation you need and deserve:

• Experience: Our legal team has decades of combined experience in handling accident cases, including those involving spinal cord injuries.
• Personalized Attention: We empathize with our clients’ situations and are dedicated to providing personalized, compassionate attention.
• Contingent Fee Basis: Our law firm operates on contingency, meaning that we only charge for our legal services if we successfully recover compensation for our clients.

If you sustained a SCI in a crash that was not your fault, do not hesitate to retain legal counsel. Our skilled spinal cord injury attorneys in Las Vegas charge no upfront fees for handling accident cases. We only get paid if we successfully resolve your case.

Contact a Las Vegas Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today

A skilled Las Vegas spinal cord injury attorney can help you recover compensation for your losses. Learn more in a free consultation at (702) 600-3200. During this meeting, you will have the opportunity to discuss the specifics of your case, explore your options, and understand how to proceed with your accident claim. Do not allow a profit-driven insurance company to tell you what fair compensation should be, let our legal team obtain the successful result you deserve.