Some of the most catastrophic injuries you can suffer involve your spinal cord. This is an essential component of your central nervous system, so if any form of damage occurs to it, there could be severe consequences to your mobility and sensation. In the most serious instances, a spinal cord injury could even result in some form of paralysis.
If you have sustained a spinal cord injury as a result of another party’s negligent or wrongful conduct, pursuing a personal injury claim may be one of your legal options. These are civil legal processes that could provide the chance for you to recover your losses.
There are numerous types of spinal cord injuries you can suffer as a result of car accidents, falls, assaults, and many other incidents. Most of the time, these injuries will be categorized either by location or severity. Understanding the types of spinal cord injuries you could suffer and what filing a claim will involve can be helpful. An experienced attorney can help you understand your legal options and guide you through the claims process.
Spinal Cord Injuries by Severity
You can suffer an incomplete spinal cord injury if you retain some sensation or movement below the location of the injury. Nerve signals can still pass through the damaged area. It’s possible to feel pain and heat.
The most common types of incomplete spinal cord injuries include:
- Central Cord Syndrome: This affects the middle of the cord, resulting in more weakness in the arms and legs
- Brown-Séquard Syndrome: This is damage to one side of the cord, resulting in loss of movement on one side and the loss of feeling on the other
- Anterior Cord Syndrome: This refers to damage to the front of the cord, leading to loss of movement and pain control, but maintaining some sensation
A complete spinal cord injury is one in which you lose all sensory and motor function below the site of the injury.
Spinal Cord Injuries By Location
Spinal cord injuries can be categorized by their location. Cervical spine injuries are typically the most severe because they involve the neck area of your spinal cord. The injury could impact everything below your neck.
Thoracic spine injuries involve the area of the spinal cord stretching from your upper back to your belly button, while lumbar spine injuries involve your lower back. The sacral spine is the last section of the cord, and it contains nerve roots below your buttocks all the way to your tailbone.
Most Common Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can cause an array of symptoms, depending on the severity and location of the harm you have suffered.
Sensory symptoms can involve:
- Pain
- Numbness
- Pins-and-needles sensation or tingling
Autonomic symptoms, which impact body processes you don’t have to think about, include:
- Blood pressure issues, especially low blood pressure
- Heart rate disruptions
- Urinary or fecal incontinence
- Body temperature issues
- Erectile dysfunction
You can also experience motor symptoms like paralysis, uncontrollably flexed muscles, and weakness.
Personal Injury Claims After Suffering a Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injuries can leave you with mounting medical bills, the inability to work as you used to (or at all), and emotional and physical distress. If another party was responsible for your injuries, you should hold them responsible for your losses. A personal injury lawyer can help you fight for the compensation you deserve after suffering a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence.
These types of claims require demonstrating that the other party failed to behave as a reasonable person would have in the same circumstances. Gathering evidence from the scene of the incident, speaking with eyewitnesses, and reaching out to expert witnesses may all be necessary to prove that the other party failed in their duty toward you.
To complicate matters further, there is a statute of limitations in New York that can impact your claim. Most of the time, you will only have three years to file a claim. Although this could seem like a long time, it’s essential to begin the process as soon as possible to ensure there will still be viable evidence available.
To ensure you can meet all of the requirements and have the best possible chance to recover your losses, you need to hire a skilled attorney. They have the knowledge and experience to fight for the compensation you deserve while you focus on healing.
Contact the New York Personal Injury Lawyers at Carrion Accident & Injury Attorneys, PLLC for a Free Consultation
After sustaining a spinal cord injury in New York, it’s in your best interests to contact an attorney at (212) 433-3100 to assist you with your claim. At Carrion Accident & Injury Attorneys, PLLC, our team provides the ongoing support you need through this difficult time in your life. Schedule a consultation with a dedicated New York personal injury lawyer to discuss filing a claim and begin the process of moving forward.
