Spinal cord injuries are among the most serious injuries someone can sustain in an accident. They can affect mobility, sensation, employment, and the ability to perform everyday activities independently.
The consequences may extend far beyond the initial injury. Some individuals require extensive rehabilitation, ongoing medical treatment, assistive equipment, or long-term care.
When another party’s negligence causes a spinal cord injury, the injured person may have grounds to pursue compensation. Understanding these injuries and the legal options available can help accident victims and their families prepare for the challenges ahead.
How Does the Spinal Cord Work?
The spinal cord is part of the body’s central nervous system, along with the brain. It carries signals between the brain and the rest of the body, allowing people to move, experience sensations, and perform essential bodily functions.
The spinal cord also coordinates certain reflexes without requiring conscious instructions from the brain. It is protected by the vertebrae, surrounding membranes, and cerebrospinal fluid.
What Causes Spinal Cord Injuries?
Spinal cord injuries frequently result from traumatic events, including car accidents, slip and fall incidents, assaults, and sports-related accidents.
These incidents can fracture or dislocate vertebrae, compress the spinal cord, or damage the nerve tissue itself. Nontraumatic conditions, including infections, tumors, and reduced blood flow, can also cause spinal cord damage.
What Is the Difference Between Complete and Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries?
A spinal cord injury may be classified as complete or incomplete based on the neurological function that remains after the injury.
An incomplete injury means some sensory or motor function is preserved below the injury level, including in the lowest sacral segments. The amount of movement and sensation that remains varies.
A complete injury means there is no preserved sensory or motor function in the lowest sacral segments. However, some function may remain in areas below the injury level, so complete injuries do not necessarily eliminate every movement or sensation below the damaged portion of the spinal cord.
What Are the Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury?
Symptoms depend on the location and severity of the damage. Common effects include:
- Weakness or paralysis
- Loss of sensation or numbness
- Persistent pain or unusual tingling
- Muscle spasms
- Difficulty controlling bladder or bowel function
- Breathing difficulties in severe cervical injuries
Suspected spinal cord injuries require emergency medical attention. Moving someone with a potentially unstable spinal injury can worsen the damage unless movement is necessary to address an immediate danger.
How Are Spinal Cord Injuries Diagnosed?
Doctors evaluate suspected spinal cord injuries through physical and neurological examinations that assess strength, sensation, reflexes, and movement.
CT scans and X-rays can identify fractures or spinal alignment problems, while MRI scans can reveal damage to the spinal cord, discs, and surrounding soft tissues.
How Are Spinal Cord Injuries Treated?
Initial treatment focuses on stabilizing the patient, protecting the spine, and preventing additional neurological damage. Depending on the injury, emergency care may involve spinal stabilization, respiratory support, or surgery to relieve compression.
Once the patient is medically stable, rehabilitation may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and training with mobility aids or other assistive devices.
Some individuals regain function, particularly after incomplete injuries, while others experience permanent disabilities. Long-term treatment depends on the person’s specific medical needs.
Can You File a Personal Injury Claim After a Spinal Cord Injury?
If another party’s negligence caused your spinal cord injury, you may be able to pursue a personal injury claim. Generally, you must establish that the responsible party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused injuries resulting in compensable damages.
For example, a driver who runs a red light and causes a motorcycle crash may be liable if their negligence causes a spinal cord injury.
Depending on the circumstances, compensation may be available for medical expenses, rehabilitation, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and future care needs.
How Does Texas Law Affect Spinal Cord Injury Claims?
Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001, an injured person generally cannot recover damages if they are more than 50% responsible for the accident.
If their share of fault is 50% or less, compensation is reduced according to their percentage of responsibility.
Texas also generally imposes a two-year deadline for filing personal injury lawsuits under § 16.003. Limited exceptions and special requirements, including those involving government entities, may apply.
How Can an Attorney Help With a Spinal Cord Injury Claim?
Spinal cord injury cases often involve substantial medical expenses and uncertainty about future care. An attorney can gather accident reports, medical records, witness statements, and other evidence to evaluate liability and damages.
Legal counsel may also work with medical and financial experts to assess long-term treatment costs, lost earning capacity, and other losses. This information can help support insurance negotiations or litigation when necessary.
Contact the Fort Worth Personal Injury Attorneys at Trial Tribe Injury Lawyers for Help Today
Recovering from a spinal cord injury involves more than medical treatment. You may be facing changes to your employment, mobility, household responsibilities, and financial security while trying to adjust to a new routine.
Trial Tribe Injury Lawyers understands the challenges that serious injuries can create for individuals and their families. Our Fort Worth personal injury lawyers can help you examine the circumstances of your accident, understand the potential value of your claim, and determine how to move forward.
If someone else’s negligence caused your spinal cord injury, contact us for a free consultation. We can discuss your concerns, answer your questions, and help you consider the next steps.
For more information, contact Trial Tribe Injury Lawyers at (817) 400-5000 to schedule a free consultation with a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer in Fort Worth, TX, today.
We are proud to serve clients throughout Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and the surrounding communities in Texas.