Attorneys for Spinal Cord Injuries

Recognizing Spinal Cord Injuries

About the Spinal Cord

A spinal cord is a long, thin structure of nervous tissue and support cells enclosed within the spinal column of a person’s vertebral column (backbone or spine). A vertebral column usually consists of 33 vertebrae (the small bones forming a person’s spine):

• Cervical Vertebrae (C1-C8). The eight vertebrae in the highest area of the spinal cord right below the skull.
• Thoracic Vertebrae (T1-T12). The 12 vertebrae in the middle of the spinal cord from the upper to the middle of a person’s back.
• Lumbar Vertebrae (L1-L5). The five vertebrae in the lower area of the spinal cord between the rib cage and the pelvis.
• Sacral Vertebrae (S1-S5). The five fused vertebrae at the base of the spinal cord in a person’s sacrum (the large, triangular bone located in the back part of the pelvis).
• Coccygeal Vertebrae (Co1-Co4). The four fused vertebrae that make the final segment of the vertebral column.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

The level of sensory or motor function below the level of a spine injury determines whether it is a complete or incomplete injury. An incomplete injury occurs when a person has some sensory or motor function below the point of the injury. A complete spinal cord injury involves a spinal cord being completely severed and/or the person experiencing complete loss of sensation below the point of the injury.

Major spinal cord injuries, both complete and incomplete, include:

• Tetraplegia (Quadriplegia). Damage to the cervical spinal cord causing paralysis of all limbs.
• Paraplegia. Damage to the thoracic spinal cord causing loss of sensory or motor function in the lower half of the body.
• Triplegia. A spinal cord injury causing paralysis of three limbs, usually one arm and both legs, although damage to both arms and one leg is possible.
• Cauda Equina Syndrome. Damage to the nerves below the first and second lumbar nerves causing partial or complete loss of movement and sensation to the legs, bladder, and sexual organs.

Other common incomplete spinal cord injuries include:

• Anterior Cord Syndrome (Beck’s syndrome or anterior spinal artery syndrome). Results from injury to the motor and sensory pathways in the anterior (front) parts of the spinal cord. Causes loss of motor function, pain sensation, and temperature sensation below the point of the injury, although limited sense of touch can remain.
• Brown-Séquard Syndrome. Caused by injury to one side of the spinal cord. Causes loss of motor function on the same side of the body as the injury while the opposite side can lose temperature and pain sensations.
• Central Cord Syndrome. Caused by damage to the cervical spinal cord (the center of the spinal cord). Causes paralysis and/or loss of fine control of movements in the arms and hands, with less impairment of leg movements.

Spinal Cord Recovery Timeline

How long it takes to recover from an injury to the spinal cord varies on the exact type of injury, the severity, and the health of the individual before receiving a SCI. That said, when people do regain function, it typically occurs within 18 months of the initial injury, although some individuals may still notice improvements years later.

Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries can occur in just about any setting. Some of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries include:

• Auto accidents
• Aviation accidents
• Construction accidents
• Fall accidents
• Helicopter accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Nursing home negligence
• Premises liability
• Product liability
• Workplace accidents

Filing Spinal Cord Injury Claims

Burden of Evidence

Victims in personal injury cases have burden of evidence, meaning they must provide sufficient evidence to prove their claims. To win a personal injury lawsuit—including those involving SCIs—the victim must prove that the alleged responsible party:

• Had expectations to act within an accepted standard of care (as is the case with medical professionals) and did not provide it,
• Acted with hazardous negligence, as seen in drunk driving car accidents, and/or
• Acted with malice.

Furthermore, victims must also prove that the injury was a result of the alleged responsible party’s actions and outline the exact damages that resulted from the injury.

Available Damages

Potential damages available in spinal cord injury claims include:

• Medical care and physical therapy costs
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of earning capacity
• Loss of personal property
• Disability
• Pain and suffering