Spinal cord injuries can lead to life-altering consequences, including partial or complete paralysis. They may affect an individual’s ability to move, feel, and function normally and can result from all sorts of traumatic events, including car accidents, slip and falls, or sporting incidents. If another person’s negligence caused your injury, our top-tier Lake Charles spinal cord injury lawyers at Shamieh Law are here to help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
Spinal cord injuries can be very serious and have a profound impact on the victim’s life. The spinal cord consists of a bundle of nerves running down the center of the back and is responsible for sending signals between the brain and the rest of the body. When the spinal cord is damaged or severed, it can result in partial or complete paralysis, affecting the individual’s ability to move, feel, and function normally.
Spinal cord injuries are often caused by traumatic events, such as car crashes, slip and falls, and sporting accidents. These injuries can result in long-term physical, emotional, and financial consequences.
Though a personal injury lawsuit can’t undo the traumatic experience of a spinal cord injury, it can help you secure compensation to offset injury-related costs. If another person’s negligent actions caused your spinal cord injuries, our experienced Lake Charles personal injury lawyers at Shamieh Law are ready to fight for you. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
Shamieh Law’s Lake Charles Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Will Fight for You
Navigating the legal aftermath of a spinal cord injury can be overwhelming. Between intensive medical care, drastic lifestyle changes, and the overall stress that comes with a serious injury, seeking legal guidance might be the last thing on your mind. However, it’s a critical part of pursuing the compensation you deserve from the at-fault party, as their insurer will do whatever they can to reduce or deny the true value of your claim.
At Shamieh Law, we understand the difficulties victims face when dealing with a spinal cord injury. Our clients are our priority, and we treat each one like family throughout the life of their case. We’ll stand by your side from the moment we get started with your free consultation to the day you receive your compensation from the at-fault party.
We focus on “Winning With Awareness,” which we believe leaves us well-positioned to tackle the unique challenges faced by our clients. You can count on us to prioritize your interests, work to achieve meaningful results, provide unparalleled legal service, and leverage our extensive experience to build a solid claim on your behalf.
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, our skilled, compassionate spine injury lawyers at Shamieh Law are ready to help. We are here for you.
Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal cord injury involves damage to any part of the spinal cord, which consists of a dense bundle of nerves responsible for transmitting signals between the brain and the rest of the body. Its cylindrical structure is delicate and easily damaged, especially when the bony structure of the surrounding vertebrae is damaged along the back or neck.
When the spinal cord is damaged or severed, your brain’s ability to communicate signals to the rest of the body is impaired. Spinal cord injuries often permanently impair your ability to sensation and bodily functions below the point of injury. This can even result in partial or total paralysis. For example, if the injury happens at the waist level along the spine, the victim might experience long-lasting paralysis from the waist down.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal cord injury can be categorized as complete or incomplete. An incomplete injury occurs when the damage to the spinal cord does not totally eliminate its ability to transmit signals to and from the brain. Individuals suffering from an incomplete injury possess some level of function, sensation, or muscle control below the injury site.
By contrast, a complete injury occurs when severe spinal cord damage totally severs nerve communication below the injury site, causing lost muscle control and sensation below the point of injury. Paralysis that affects the legs is known as paraplegia, and paralysis that affects the body from the neck down is known as quadriplegia.
Effects of Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal cord injury can affect the entire body and many of its functions, including:
- Breathing – The diaphragm muscles necessary for breathing may weaken after a spinal cord injury, especially with injuries affecting the cervical spine. A tracheostomy operation in which breathing tubes are inserted from outside of the neck may be necessary to promote oxygen flow.
- Spinal cord reflexes – Although messages from the brain may not get through to affected areas of the body, reflex movements can happen. These movements are not controlled. For example, the foot might move automatically when touched.
- Spinal shock – This occurs when the body loses all reflexes below the point of injury and can last days or weeks. Stiffness or spasticity may follow the shock phase.
- Neurogenic shock – Low heart rate and low blood pressure, known as neurogenic shock, can occur after a spinal cord injury.
- Temperature regulation – The body might be unable to regulate its temperature below the level of the injury, leading to serious complications.
- Swallowing – Spinal cord injuries affecting the cervical spine or neck area can make swallowing difficult, and a nasogastric tube may be necessary to supply nutrients and medication to the body.
- Bowel and bladder control – A spinal cord injury may affect the brain’s ability to communicate with the intestines and bladder, impairing the victim’s ability to control their bodily functions.
For many individuals suffering a spinal cord injury in Lake Charles, the effects go far beyond their physical well-being. These life-altering injuries can also be very psychologically challenging, which may take a toll on their mental and emotional health.
A lawsuit cannot undo the trauma and suffering caused by a spinal cord injury, but it can help you seek damages to offset your medical costs and hold the responsible person accountable. You may also be eligible for damages to compensate you for the emotional distress, pain, and suffering you experienced due to your injury.
Treatment and Rehabilitation for Spinal Cord Injuries
Unfortunately, damage to the delicate spinal cord is difficult to treat. While researchers are optimistic about future technology that may help those suffering from spinal cord injuries make better progress, recovery can still be an uphill battle.
That said, treatment and rehabilitation can help with some spinal cord injuries. he recovery process after a spinal cord injury can be long, tedious, and expensive, creating a significant financial burden for those handling the aftermath of this kind of injury.
That is where our skilled spinal cord injury lawyers come in. If your injury resulted from another person’s carelessness, Shamieh Law can help you fight for compensation to offset your care costs.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Lake Charles
Spinal cord injuries can result from various causes, including:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Slips and falls
- Sports and recreation activities
- Workplace accidents
- Disease
- Acts of violence
Damages Available in a Lake Charles Spinal Cord Injury Claim
Victims who sustain spinal cord injuries due to another’s negligence may be entitled to significant legal compensation. Compensation in personal injury cases normally includes:
- Economic damages, which cover monetary aspects of your accident, including lost wages, lowered future earning capacity, medical expenses, and rehabilitation.
- Non-economic damages, which cover aspects of your injuries and losses that do not easily reduce to a hard-and-fast number, including things like lowered quality of life, pain, and suffering.
The amount of damages you can pursue varies based on the circumstances of your case. Generally, more severe injuries with higher costs and lower likelihoods of recovery are eligible for more compensation. A skilled Lake Charles spine injury lawyer can help you determine a fair and meaningful amount for your case.
Statute of Limitations in a Lake Charles Spinal Cord Injury Case
Under the Louisiana personal injury statute of limitations, victims have one year to file a spinal cord injury lawsuit. Louisiana law sets a one-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases, including most spinal cord injury cases. This means victims only have one year after sustaining a spinal cord injury to pursue compensation from the at-fault party.
Though there are a few exceptions to this otherwise strictly enforced rule, you should consult with an attorney before relying on them. This is because failure to file before the correct deadline nearly always results in your case being dismissed in court.
How Can a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Help With My Lawsuit?
Help from a skilled Lake Charles spinal cord injury attorney aids you in pursuing fair and meaningful compensation in a lawsuit. Insurance companies often offer unfairly low settlement amounts, so having assistance from a lawyer who understands these tactics is critical.
At Shamieh Law, we’re well-versed in these cases. Our Lake Charles spinal cord injury attorneys will help by:
- Learning about your accident in an initial consultation.
- Launching a thorough investigation to uncover essential evidence, including witness statements, dashcam footage, and police reports.
- Offering sound legal guidance to help you make informed decisions.
- Fielding and negotiating settlement offers from insurance companies.
- Representing you in court, if necessary, and fighting aggressively to pursue the compensation you deserve.
Contact a Lake Charles Brain Injury Lawyer at Shamieh Law Today
Spinal cord injuries often lead to life-altering consequences and may require expensive, long-term medical care. While a lawsuit cannot undo your traumatic experience, it can help offset the costs associated with your accident.
Our experienced Lake Charles spinal cord lawyers at Shamieh Law have helped many victims seek damages for their injuries and can help you fight to do the same. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Charles Spinal Cord Cases
If your loved one has passed away due to a spinal cord injury that was caused by someone else, pursuing compensation through a Louisiana wrongful death claim might be a viable avenue. A surviving spouse, children, parent, sibling, or grandparent may pursue compensation. Our wrongful death attorneys can help you determine the best course of action.
The life expectancy for individuals who sustain spinal cord injuries varies based on the severity of the injury and how their body reacts. The first year is often the most critical, and the life expectancy beyond that can vary. For example, the average life expectancy for a 20-year-old who suffers a high tetraplegia spinal injury is approximately 33.7 years after the accident.
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