Did you or a loved one suffer a severe spinal cord injury in Panama City? Did someone close to you become paralyzed due to someone else’s negligence or an intentional act? If so, contact The Bruner Law Firm right away to discuss your situation and get a free case evaluation right away.
There are no two ways about it, spinal cord injuries are devastating, life-altering injuries. If you’ve been the victim of a spinal cord injury you have already seen your life change in ways you couldn’t have imagined before your accident. The road ahead is still uncertain and filled with challenges you’ll be forced to overcome. Medical bills are already piling up and there may be no end in sight to the number of treatments you’ll need.
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, the first year of medical expenses for paraplegia patients can exceed $550,000. For quadriplegic patients that cost can range from $800,000 to over $1 million. Those numbers are solely for the first year of treatment. Average lifetime costs for spinal cord injury victims can reach into the millions of dollars. Do you have millions of dollars? Does your insurance plan, like most, cap your lifetime benefits?
Now, not only has your life changed, your financial future is at stake. Your quality of life has already been altered, are you ready to go into debt and risk your financial quality of life as well? If you have been the victim of an accident that has left you with any type of spinal cord injury or paralysis, contact The Bruner Law Firm at (850) 769-9292 for a free case evaluation. You have rights following an accident and we’ll help you protect them.
What is a Spinal Cord Injury?
The spinal cord is a major bundle of nerves that carries signals from the brain to the rest of the body. These signals control everything from the movement of our arms and legs to our breathing and everything in between. The spinal cord is protected by bones called vertebra. A spinal cord injury is any type of trauma that damages the spinal cord itself. Damage to the spinal cord can result in loss of function such as mobility or feeling to certain areas of the body. The spinal cord is very sensitive and contrary to popular belief, it does not have to be severed for a person to lose function.
Types of Accidents that Can Result in a Spinal Cord Injury
There are several different accidents that can result in a spinal cord injury. The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center estimates that 17,730 new cases of spinal cord injuries occur each year. The majority of these types of injuries are the result of car or truck accidents. The force of a car accident can break the vertebrae protecting the spinal cord.
Those broken bones can then severe the cord itself resulting in a serious spinal cord injury. The force of a car accident can also compress or rupture the soft cushioning discs between the vertebrae which can also lead to spinal cord damage. Falls are also another big contributor to spinal cord injuries, whether at work or from negligence and hazards. Here is a list of some of the more common accidents that can result in serious and life-changing spinal cord injuries:
- Car accident
- Truck accident
- Slip and fall accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Birth injuries
If you have suffered a spinal cord accident with or without paralysis consider talking to an experienced lawyer with The Bruner Law Firm.We offer heartfelt and compassionate service for you and your family while aggressively fighting to see that you are compensated for your injuries.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are often very complex. The spinal cord is protected by bones known as vertebrae. The spinal cord and vertebrae are broken down into four different regions known as the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. The cervical region is the topmost portion of the spinal cord that connects the cord to the brain and extends down into the neck. The thoracic region contains 12 vertebrae and covers the middle of the back. The lumbar region is the lower area of the back where the spinal cord begins to bend followed by the sacral spine. The sacral region actually does not contain any portion of the spinal cord itself. Often times, when refers to spinal cord injuries you’ll hear medical professionals make reference to the area of the spine where the injury occurred.
There are two main types of spinal cord injuries complete and incomplete. A complete spinal cord injury is the most serious of the two main types. It results in the total elimination of the brain’s ability to send signals and impulses to the parts of the body below the spinal cord injury. Typically, this type of injury would be the result of severing the spinal cord. A complete injury to the lumbar region of the spinal cord would result in paraplegia or the lack of function and movement in the lower part of the body below the waist. A complete injury to the cervical region of the spinal cord would lead to a loss of function in both upper and lower portions of the body altogether also known as quadriplegia. Quadriplegia not only means paralysis in all four limbs of the body, but it can also mean that a victim may not even be able to breathe on their own.
Incomplete spinal cord injuries are usually the result of a compression injury or partial damage to the spinal cord. The severity of an incomplete injury can vary drastically from person to person and can also depend upon the level and type of damage inflicted. The ability to move and the amount of feeling that can be retained again depends on the severity of the damage to the spinal cord.
As far as modern medicine has come, there is no cure for a spinal cord injury. Nerves are not able to regenerate. For victims of accidents, a spinal cord injury will alter their way of life forever. In severe cases, a person may require 24 hours per day care because they are simply unable to accomplish even the most basic self-care tasks. For others, a spinal cord injury can mean months, sometimes years, or grueling physical therapy and rehabilitation.
Can you afford the astronomical amount of money it takes to treat an injury this severe? At The Bruner Law Firm we don’t want to see you worried over how to pay the bills, especially when you are the victim. The accident wasn’t your fault but now you are saddled with the immense repercussions for the rest of your life. We work hard to get you the compensation you deserve in order to make sure you are not crushed by the weight of your medical costs, not now, not ever.
Is Compensation Available for Spinal Cord Injuries?
If you’ve been the victim of an accident that has left you with an injury to your spinal cord, you may be able to recover damages. Not all cases are the same, and the type of accident and circumstances surrounding that accident have a big impact. However, in general, you may be awarded damages if you’ve been the victim of a negligent accident. In spinal cord injury cases, your compensation may include reimbursement for your medical expenses and damages for pain and suffering. Since many spinal cord injuries result in permanent and life-changing effects, damages may also be awarded to compensate for ongoing health care and rehabilitation or even assistive medical devices and modifications to a victim’s home.
We don’t treat every case the same, every case is as unique as you are. That’s why talking to an experienced attorney with The Bruner Law Firm is so important. We can give you the advice and direction you need. We help you understand your rights after an accident and what you may be able to expect in terms of compensation for your individual situation.
How Can a Lawyer with The Bruner Law Firm Help Me After a Spinal Cord Accident?
Spinal cord injuries are complicated. So too are spinal cord injury lawsuits. The right Panama City injury attorney needs to have experience and knowledge of the Florida laws that pertain to your situation. The right attorney also needs to have medical resources at the ready to help you with your recovery and your case. We know that you may be depressed and feeling vulnerable. You don’t want to put yourself in an even more vulnerable position by bearing all to a lawyer. Please know that we have worked with numerous other victims and their families and offer sensitive and compassionate service. Our priority to work with you to recover the compensation you need now and for your future.
Call The Bruner Law Firm at (850) 769-9292 in order to schedule a free case evaluation. We don’t stop working until we get you the money that you deserve. Negligence shouldn’t go unpunished. Let us help you take back control of your life and your future.
