When persons suffer from a spinal cord injury or a severed spinal cord, their daily life is altered forever. In many instances, this trauma leaves them suffering complete and permanent disability. In other words, they end up suffering from paraplegia or quadriplegia which restricts their mobility and leaves them bound to a wheelchair.
An experienced Queens spinal cord injury lawyer at Cellino Law will guide you through the legal process as you pick the pieces up after a serious accident that left you disabled. At the Cellino Law Firm, our team of professionals uses their resources to their full capabilities to ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve. While it may be very difficult to change the past, our lawyers can ensure that you receive compassionate service that is structured to personally suit you.
Our lawyers have your best interest at heart. Our Queens injury law firm can be contacted for your free consultation at (888) 888-8888.
What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?
Spinal cord injuries refer to an injury that leaves the spinal cord in a damaged state. Since the spinal column consists of vertebrae, they can become injured which leads to various health detriments. In essence, these determinants go on to inflict damages on the nerves that are needed to control different bodily systems.
Spinal cord injuries affect the respiratory system, the urinary system, the gastrointestinal system, and even the musculoskeletal system. When persons suffer from such severe injuries, they feel the negative mental impacts and later develop depression and anxiety.
Scientific studies have estimated that spinal cord injuries often leave victims suffering for a lifetime. The cost to maintain life in this state ranges from anywhere between $500,000 and $3,000,000, or in extreme cases, even more.
What Are the Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries?
These types of injuries can stem from just about any accident. Being hit in the wrong place can cause severe spinal cord injuries. Simply jumping on a trampoline or turning during a backflip can result in spinal cord injuries. The following can easily result in spinal cord injuries:
Vehicle Collision
Vehicular accidents are mostly responsible for some of the devastating accidents that cause spinal injuries. Traveling at high speeds leaves even the best protective measures being the furthest thing from effective. If an accident was caused by pure negligence, the driver of the vehicle will be held liable for suffering, pain, and other medical expenses.
Slips and Falls
Accidents that come from slips and falls are among the most dangerous. This is even more serious for seniors and often leads to different levels of spinal injury. Based on the cause of the accident, someone can be held liable.
If building owners allow their stairs to fall into a disrepair state without proper lighting, they can be responsible. If someone falls and suffers from spinal injuries, the owner of the property will be held liable for negligence.
Bicycle Accidents
Persons also often suffer from serious bicycle injuries because cyclists have the least amount of protection. When traveling at high speeds, not even the safest or the most expensive helmet will offer enough protection for the neck and back. These areas are left exposed to possible injuries.
While riders tend to take the most precaution to ensure that they are responsible during their cycling activities, some accidents are caused by others. Most riding accidents are caused by reckless drivers and other parties. When motorists strike cyclists, they are usually held responsible for all the expenses and injuries that come after these accidents.
Sports Injuries
High contact sporting injuries often tend to leave victims suffering from spinal cord injuries. High contact sports tend to be those that have persons slamming into each other regularly and of course frequently. Diving as well has been known to cause spinal cord injuries.
Divers can suffer when they dive into water that is too shallow and they hit the bottom. This leaves their cord being compressed in one of the most violent manners possible. However, improper training and supervision usually lead to these types of injuries and negligence on the responsible parties’ part and they tend to end up paying for their carelessness.
Violent Acts
Violent acts such as fights and the use of firearms tend to easily cause spinal cord injuries. In these cases, it’s better to properly identify the party that is responsible for the injuries. While these aren’t classed as accidents, they are deliberate acts of violence.
Hence, victims can prove negligence and liability in the court. This is usually done by an experienced attorney who properly understands the cost that can be recovered.
What Are the Symptoms of Spinal Injuries?
Spinal injuries usually leave their victims needing immediate treatment. The following are symptoms of spinal cord injuries:
- Weakness and paralysis
- Numbness
- Pain
- Sensory changes
- Loss of feeling at or below the injury site
- Loss of bladder and bowel control
- Spasticity
When persons suffer from a spinal injury in their neck, it can negatively affect their arms and legs. If they’ve suffered an injury high on their back, it can affect the muscles that are used for breathing. If the injury occurs at the chest level, persons can suffer from abnormal body temperatures, blood pressure problems, and sweating.
How Do You Diagnose Spinal Injuries?
Since it isn’t always easy to properly identify spinal cord injuries, persons should be assessed after they experience the following injuries:
- Pelvic fractures
- Injuries due to falls
- Head injuries and trauma to the face
- Penetrating injuries that are close to the spine
If persons experience symptoms after suffering from the above injuries, they could have spinal cord injuries. Hence, emergency responders should be called in as soon as possible. In some instances, they immobilize persons to prevent them from damages and rush them to the ER.
When they get to the hospital, the doctors will conduct an examination to determine the site of injury. The following are common tests that are used to determine spinal cord injuries:
- CT Scans
- MRIs which give a clearer picture of the injury
- Myelograms or X-rays
- Electromyography to check the muscles and the nerves that control them
How Do You Treat Spinal Injuries?
Just like with other injuries, the time between the injury and effective treatment determines the outcome. To reduce the effects, a quick response is essential. The following are treatment options:
- Administering medication to reduce inflammation
- Stabilizing the spine with traction
However, depending on the degree as well as the type of injury, surgery can include the following:
- Implantation of spinal braces
- Fusing broken vertebrae
- Removing disc or bone fragments
- Removing fluid or tissue to reduce pressure
- Removing foreign objects
Thus far, the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center has determined the average initial stay at a hospital for spinal injury to be 36 days. This leaves patients undergoing rehab for their injuries during the period. The following can be included in rehabilitation exercises for spinal injuries:
- Learning how to use walkers, wheelchairs, and other assistive devices
- Physical therapy for mobility, muscles, and communication
- Occupational therapy to improve current motor skills
- Assistive devices are used and persons undergo vocational therapy to resume work as effective as possible
In the instance where patients don’t recover movement or feeling in the affected areas after a 6 month period, the loss of functionality is almost permanent. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, up to 30% of people with spinal cord injuries will need to be admitted to the hospital more than once after they’ve suffered an injury. Their stay is predicted to be the average at 22 days.
Types of Paralysis Injuries and the Estimated Cost of Care
Residents and their families near Queens, NY, not only cope with the challenges of this new lifestyle but they also pay a fortune for treatment and assistive care.
Paraplegia
If a person suffers from a lower spinal injury, they can become paraplegic. This leaves them losing their motor functions in their lower limbs. While they can still make use of their upper bodies, they still require a wheelchair for mobility.
In order to successfully care for these injuries, it can cost upwards of $500000 for the first year. After the first year, it generally costs on average $70000. However, a lifetime of care for a paraplegic person can easily exceed over $2.5 million especially if the victim was young.
Quadriplegia and Tetraplegia
Persons suffering from either tetraplegia or quadriplegia suffer from paralysis in both the lower and upper parts of the body. Tetraplegia tends to occur in two forms and limit the movements and sensations according to where the injury was located. Low tetraplegia patients tend to suffer from limited motor functions in their upper body.
Those who suffer from high tetraplegia tend to need caregivers to aid them for the rest of their lives. In the case of low tetraplegia, persons easily spend $800000 plus during the first year and high tetraplegia patients spend over $1 million in care. If the victim is young, their lifetime will see them spending over $5 million in care.
When you lump the burdens of financial cost of a person’s lifetime, along with pain, suffering, and loss of wages, it is important to ensure that an experienced attorney is hired to help.
What Are the Costs Associated With Spinal Injuries?
Living with spinal cord injuries can be quite the financial burden and roughly 43% are deemed paraplegic while the remaining 57% are quadriplegic. In essence, they will be forced to hire living assistance and medical assistance for the rest of their lives.
Depending on the severity of spinal cord injuries along with the person’s age, each lifetime cost varies. Some spend as low as $450000 for those who are 50 years. In an extreme situation, persons spend close to $3 million in care if they’re 25 years and suffer from high quadriplegic.
How Can a Queens Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Help a Claim?
Spinal cord injuries tend to reach further than just health issues. Spinal cord injuries lead to some of the most financial debts in a person’s life and they need to spend a fortune on medical bills and lost wages. Hence, it’s a great idea to seek legal help that you can from the Cellino Law Firm.
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, over 35% of spinal injuries result from vehicular collisions. The experienced attorneys at the Cellino Law Firm have advanced knowledge on the New York State traffic laws. They will work in your favor to ensure that violations are pursued according to the law.
The attorneys at Cellino Law are well versed in both auto and motorcycle accidents. So if you or your loved ones have suffered from spinal injuries because of auto and motorcycle accidents, it’s beneficial that you contact us.
The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center also indicated that 9.2% of spinal injuries are related to sports, 28.5% are fall victims, and 14.3% of the injuries come from violence. Spinal cord injuries can be anyone’s fault especially if they’re negligent.
If you’ve suffered from spinal cord injury, it could have been due to the lack of safety regulations. In other cases, it could also be because of insufficient maintenance. So if your fall happened in a public setting, commercial property, or even in a private residence, our lawyers are dedicated to helping you.
We’ll ensure that we find the sources of negligence or violations. Slip and fall accidents are one of the key areas that the attorneys of the Cellino Law Firm handle regularly.
In the case where your injuries were caused by violence, you should seek our help to get the compensation that you need. The persons responsible for your injuries can be held accountable. Hence, you can easily file for an injury settlement.
So if you or a loved one is suffering from spinal injuries due to sporting activities, the owner of the property where you sustained your injuries can be held liable. So if you think that the property owner is liable for your injuries, be sure to contact us immediately. When you contact us, we’ll discuss our slip and fall services and how we can help you.
Compensation for Spinal Cord Injuries
At Cellino Law Firm, we work tirelessly with professionals to ensure that the defendants are held liable for your damages. Unlike other injuries, spinal cord injuries can be traumatizing and devastating due to the lifetime of medical and physical therapy. Victims suffer from so many expenses and they even lost wages.
Types of compensation you can receive from spinal injury cases include:
- Lost earnings
- Future and past suffering and pain
- Other types of recovery based on the injury
- Future medical expenses such as surgery, medical costs, and physical therapy
At Cellino Law Firm, we’ve handled hundreds of spinal cord injuries and we’re capable of handling yours. We’ve successfully worked with some of the leading professionals including the following:
- Medical doctors who are able to prove the injury as well as neurosurgeons, and orthopedic spinal surgeons.
- Economics experts provide future and past lost wages, fringe benefits, union and other benefits, salary increases, retirement benefits, household services, and other economic damages.
- Vocational rehab professionals who can effectively explain why patients are suited for different professions.
- Lifecare experts who devise a suitable plan for the victims for the rest of their lives. They also schedule therapy, 24-hour rehab, meds, surgery, medical visits, and other factors. Claims can then be filed for the past and future medical and life planning costs that are needed by the family to survive after an accident.
How Do We Achieve the Highest Possible Compensation for You and Your Family?
At the Cellino Law Firm, we’ve come to the striking realization that all spinal injury cases are better dealt with when it’s taken to trial. While some persons become confused at the large sum of money that could be theirs if they settled, we’re here to guide and encourage persons to file a suit and go on trial. This is done to give victims the best chances of getting the compensation that they deserve to live the rest of their lives comfortably.
However, it’s best to go on trial since defendants tend to usually have insurance providers that don’t play fair during negotiations. In essence, a reputable law firm will have the negotiation skills and mediation skills to get the right deal for you. The attorneys at Cellino Law aren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and get things stirred up as they negotiate in your favor.
Our attorneys have gained substantial experience over the years to handle even the toughest personal injury cases. We’re equipped to deal with spinal cord injuries and other back-related injuries.
Contact Cellino Law Today for a Free Case-Review
At this point in our operation, we’ve successfully recovered millions of dollars for our clients over the years. We even hold some of the top settlement verdicts in all of New York State history. We understand that suffering from a personal injury is life-changing and it becomes challenging to meet the demands that your new life throws at you.
Our highly skilled Queens personal injury lawyers will work to ensure that you or your loved ones get the compensation that you deserve. We’ll ensure that you’re able to recover your medical bills, your pain, your suffering, and even the wages that you’ve lost. Call us today at (888) 888-8888 for your free consultation to determine your options and your rights in your spinal cord injury case!