If you have sustained a recent spinal cord injury, your life and the lives of those close to you are about to change drastically. You likely already know how expensive spinal cord injuries can be, and you have the right to seek compensation to help deal with the new issues you are facing.
The Severity of Spinal Cord Injuries
Typical spinal cord injuries in regards to personal injury cases occur when damage to the spinal cord from an accident leads to interruptions between the nerves of the brain and the rest of the body – communication once facilitated by nerves in the spinal cord. They are classified into two main types: complete, where all feeling and ability to control movement below the injury site are lost, and incomplete, where some remaining function remains. Beyond these primary impacts, spinal cord injuries may also lead to chronic pain, respiratory issues, and increased susceptibility to infections, further hampering health outcomes for victims.
Individuals with spinal cord injuries face monumental challenges in adapting to a new way of life. Once taken for granted, daily tasks can become Herculean feats, necessitating adjustments to living spaces and reliance on assistive technologies.
Victims often go through stages of grief as they come to terms with the fact that their lives will never be the same. Depression and anxiety are common, as the drastic life changes and the uncertainty of recovery can feel overwhelming. Recovery is a long-term process with the goal of enhancing muscle function, mobility, and independence. However, for many, full recovery is unfortunately not possible, leading to permanent disability.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
Bustling roads and highways are a significant source of spinal cord injuries, with vehicular accidents leading the charge. High-speed impacts, sudden stops, and collisions have the force to fracture vertebrae and compress or sever the spinal cord. Partial or complete paralysis is not uncommon after particularly high-speed car accidents.
Despite advancements in vehicle safety features, the spinal cord remains vulnerable to severe impacts, making it imperative for drivers and passengers to always employ safety measures like seat belts and proper child restraints. However, another driver acting extremely negligent on the road might lead to an accident, even if you do everything correctly.
The workplace, especially industries like construction and manufacturing, presents its own set of hazards leading to spinal injuries. Falls from heights, machinery accidents, and incidents involving heavy lifting or sudden force are prevalent causes. Florida’s workers’ compensation system is designed to provide financial and medical support to injured employees. However, it often falls short of covering the true cost of a spinal cord injury.
The Need for Lifetime Compensation
While no severe injuries are pleasant, spinal cord injuries can be particularly debilitating and expensive. Initially, there are the immediate costs of emergency medical treatment, surgeries, and hospital stays. Following this phase, the expenses continue to accrue, with rehabilitation, specialized medical equipment, modifications to living spaces for accessibility, and ongoing personal care being just some of the long-term considerations victims need to keep in mind. The lifetime costs can easily amount to millions of dollars, a sum few individuals or families can manage without significant financial assistance.
Moreover, spinal cord injuries often result in a diminished capacity to work, if not a complete inability to return to one’s previous employment. This loss of earning potential, coupled with the ongoing medical costs and the need for assistance with daily living activities, means that forgoing your legal right to seek compensation after an accident is not the right move.
With so much at stake, you need someone by your side who will fight for what you deserve. If you suffered a spinal cord injury after an accident, contact Probinsky & Cole today to speak to a team member and get started on your case.
