When we think of catastrophic, debilitating injuries, what often comes to mind are those injuries that result in a person being trapped in circumstances from which there is precious little chance of recovery. A spinal cord injury certainly falls into the category of catastrophic and debilitating, and when such an injury is caused by another party’s negligence, the injured person is likely to be entitled to compensation for their loss of mobility, livelihood and enjoyment of life.
Spinal cord injuries can be caused by a variety of accidents. Motor vehicle crashes account for more than a third of such injuries, with falls accounting for just under a third. Decreasingly common are injuries resulting from violence, such as gunshot wounds, as well as those related to sports.
Recognizing that a spinal injury has occurred can be as difficult, and as important, as recognizing a brain injury. Symptoms may not be immediately apparent. Loss of feeling and movement are both common, as is severe pain in the back, neck and head. Immediately following an accident, an injured person may have difficulty balancing or walking, and issues with breathing may also occur. Summoning medical attention for an injured person is critically important, as delays in medical care can cause irreversible damage and make certain injuries more severe.
When another person’s negligence has caused a spinal cord injury, the injured person and their lawyer should be able to prove that the other person or party is at fault. Often, if there are any circumstances that may point to the injured person being even a little culpable, the defense will seize on those circumstances and attempt to use them against the plaintiff.
If you have suffered a spinal cord injury as the result of someone else’s negligence, or are dealing with the effects of a loved one’s injury, meet with a compassionate Florida personal injury attorney with Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh as soon as possible.