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Many spinal cord injuries are avoidable and often caused by the negligence of another party. Have you or someone you love suffered a spinal cord injury? Do you need help getting the compensation you’re entitled to?
We can help you. Contact Langdon & Emison today to speak with a Kansas City personal injury lawyer about your legal options. We offer a complimentary consultation, and you can book yours by calling (866) 931-2115.
Your spinal cord is the messenger between your brain and your body. Severing or bruising the spine can lead to compromised physical abilities, numbness, and permanent disability. Many spinal cord injuries, like herniated discs, result in limited mobility and lifelong chronic pain.
Your entire life could change after a spinal cord injury. You could be unable to care for yourself without help and may need to live in a skilled nursing facility or have an in-home caregiver. The family dynamic also changes when one member suffers a spinal cord injury. A breadwinner may no longer be able to work, or a family member may be thrust into the role of caregiver.
Follow these steps to protect your rights after an injury.
If you suffered an injury in a vehicle collision, report the injury to the police and your insurance company. If you were hurt at work, you likely must notify your employer so you can pursue workers’ compensation.
Follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations, including physical or occupational therapy. This gives you the best chance of recovery. Be sure to save all your medical records from the accident, from your initial emergency room visit to all your after-care appointments. Your Kansas City spinal cord injury lawyer will use these to establish the extent of your injury and build a case against the at-fault party.
You may have more rights than you realize, including demanding compensation for your medical care, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Your Kansas City spinal cord injury attorney can properly value your claim and advise you of your rights.
Each personal injury law firm sets its rates for building a spinal cord injury case. Most, like those at Langdon & Emison, offer representation on a contingency fee basis. We only assess legal fees on the contingency that we win your case in court or successfully negotiate a settlement for the claim. This allows you to access high-quality representation without worrying about the up-front costs.
Per the Missouri Statute of Limitations, you must file your claim five years from the accident date. However, it’s better to file as soon as you can. Evidence could vanish or witness memories fade.
You’re entitled to claim both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are your actual, out-of-pocket expenses. Non-economic damages are intangible losses that naturally flow from the injury, like pain and suffering, disability, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Spinal cord injuries often happen because of trauma, like a car collision or workplace accident. They can also happen because of repetitive motion or repetitive stress injuries. You may also suffer a spinal cord injury because of a degenerative disease or medical condition, like arthritis or an infection that forms an abscess on the spinal cord.
Many causes of spinal cord injuries can be attributed to negligence. For example:
These are just a few everyday occasions that could lead to a serious spinal cord injury. If your cause isn’t on the list, we can still help you.
Symptoms of a spinal cord injury (SCI) vary and often depend on where on the spine the injury occurred. The location of the spinal cord injury determines the symptoms and which parts of the body may be affected by the damage.
Immediately after a traumatic SCI, your body and spinal cord are in shock. Shock masks feelings of pain and other sensations, like reflexes and muscle movement. You could have swelling of the spinal cord and the soft discs between the vertebrae. As the swelling from the injury subsides, other symptoms may appear.
If you suffered a spinal cord injury due to a herniated disc, infection of the spine, or a degenerative disease, then your symptoms may develop more slowly. You may not notice the symptoms and chalk them up to being tired or getting old.
The higher up on the spinal cord the injury is, the more your body will have compromised movement. Injuries to the cervical spine or neck could result in quadriplegia, while injuries to the lumbar spine may affect only the legs.
Injury to the middle of the spine could affect your ability to breathe, and injuries to the middle or lumbar spine may affect your digestive system and bowel and bladder control. Some people may also suffer loss of sexual function. You may notice muscle spasms, lack of muscle control, or weakness.
Because SCI symptoms are often similar to other symptoms following a traumatic spinal injury, like a car wreck or a fall from heights, you may need an X-ray, MRI, or blood test to diagnose your injury properly.
To hold the at-fault party liable for the spinal injury you suffered, your spinal cord injury lawyer in Kansas City must prove the person or entity was negligent. Negligence is a four-pronged legal concept that is the basis of personal injury claims:
Each of these elements must be proven in civil court. Your attorney may build your case using layers of evidence like:
Your lawyer gathers evidence specific to your case. They may have a private investigator or book the services of an expert witness to bolster your claim.
Without prompt diagnosis and treatment of a spinal cord injury, you run the risk of further injury or complications. Fast diagnosis may provide a window of early intervention that can improve your prognosis for recovery.
Also, visiting the doctor immediately after the accident helps establish that your injuries resulted from the accident or incident and not another cause. The other party’s lawyer or insurance company will almost certainly try to claim that your injuries were due to a pre-existing condition and therefore, you’re not entitled to compensation.
Spinal cord injuries affect the victim and their family. Some resources that can help you after an SCI include:
Have you suffered a spinal cord injury that’s affecting your daily life and ability to earn a living? Do you want to hold the at-fault party accountable for their actions? We can help you.
Contact Langdon & Emison today at (866) 931-2115 for a free consultation with one of our experienced KC personal injury lawyers.
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