A spinal cord injury can upend everything in your or your family’s life in a matter of seconds. One moment you’re living your life. Next, you’re facing the possibility of paralysis, permanent disability, and a future that looks nothing like the one you had dreamed. The physical loss is powerful, but so is the financial devastation, the emotional weight, and the uncertainty that follows.
Alabama’s roads, from the busy corridors of Montgomery to the I-65 stretch connecting our capital to Birmingham, see thousands of serious collisions every year. When those crashes involve the spine, the consequences can be permanent.
If someone else’s negligence caused your spinal cord injury, you should not have to carry the burden alone. At The Vance Law Firm, our team of dedicated catastrophic injury lawyers has been fighting for seriously injured Alabamians for decades. We understand the stakes in these cases, and we pursue the full compensation our clients need to move forward with their lives.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
What are Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injury?
Spinal cord injuries rarely happen without cause. They usually involve someone else’s negligence or recklessness. Alabama is home to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), the nation’s leading spinal cord injury research center. According to national data, the leading causes of spinal cord injuries include:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents: Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents are collectively the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, accounting for almost 37% percent of all new cases each year.
- Falls: Falls are one of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries. Falls from heights on construction sites and scaffolding collapses are among the most common slip-and-fall scenarios. In our 65 and older population, falls are most often the cause of spinal injury.
- Acts of Violence: Gunshot wounds and knife assaults account for over 14% of spinal cord injuries. In cases involving negligent security or premises liability, property owners may be held responsible.
- Sports and Recreational Injuries: Diving accidents and contact sports injuries collectively account for around 7% of new spinal cord injuries each year.
- Workplace Accidents: Construction site accidents, industrial incidents, and falls from equipment can all cause severe spinal trauma. Workers injured on the job may have both workers’ compensation claims and third-party personal injury claims available to them.
- Medical Malpractice: Surgical errors, anesthesia mistakes, and failures to diagnose or treat spinal conditions can also result in serious cord damage.
What Are Different Types of Spine Injuries?
These injuries can be categorized into 2 main types such as complete injuries and incomplete injuries. Here is a short description of these types.
Complete Injury
It’s a type of injury where the nerves get completely blocked at a point which means the spine is completely unable to send any signals below the point of injury. The result is partial or complete loss of movement and sensation.
Incomplete Injury
As the name suggests, the injured person can feel some kind of sensation below the point of injury and might also have some movement. Simply put, the end result isn’t as devastating as the complete injury which results in paralysis.
The amount of compensation you may get for your injuries depends largely on the type of spinal cord injury you have suffered. As far as the success of your claim is concerned, it depends on the type of legal representation you choose to have. This is why we urge victims to contact an experienced spinal cord injury law firm. Our lawyers specialize in representing victims of spinal cord and back injuries, and we have successfully won hundreds of cases over the years.
What Are Signs and Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injuries?
Common symptoms of injuries to the spine include:
- Feeling of extreme pressure or pain in the back, head or neck
- Difficulty in coordinating any part of the body
- Paralysis or weakness in any part of the body
- Loss of sensation, tingling or numbness in your toes, feet, fingers or hands
- Difficult to walk and balance
- Twisted or oddly positioned back or neck
- Difficulty in breathing after suffering an injury
- Loss of bladder or bowel control, and loss of movement
- Complete or partial loss of sensation such as the ability to feel touch, cold and heat
- Spasms or exaggerated reflex activities
- Changes in fertility levels, sexual sensitivity, and sexual function
- Difficulty in coughing, breathing or clearing any secretions from the lungs
- An intense tingling sensation or pain due to damaged nerve fibers in the spinal cord
Compensation Available for Spinal Cord Injury Victims in Alabama
If another party’s negligence caused your spinal cord injury, you may be entitled to pursue compensation for a wide range of losses, including:
- Medical Expenses: Emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, specialist visits, medications, medical equipment, and ongoing long-term care
- Home and Vehicle Modifications: Wheelchair ramps, widened doorways, accessible bathrooms, specialized vehicles, and other accommodations required by your injury
- Lost Wages: Income you were unable to earn during your recovery
- Lost Earning Capacity: The future income you will never be able to earn because of how your injury has affected your ability to work
- Pain and Suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD related to the injury and its aftermath
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Compensation for the activities, hobbies, and experiences in which you can no longer participate
- Loss of Consortium: Compensation for your spouse or family members for the impact the injury has had on your relationship and family life
- Wrongful Death Damages: If a spinal cord injury is fatal, surviving family members may be entitled to pursue wrongful death compensation
The Financial Impact of a Spinal Cord Injury
As is evidenced by the devastating list of consequences associated with a spinal cord injury, the costs are staggering. According to data from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, first-year costs for a severe spinal cord injury can exceed $1 million, and annual costs for ongoing care can range from around $50,000 to more than $230,000, depending on the severity of the injury. Over a lifetime, total costs can easily reach several million dollars.
These numbers don’t account for the income you lose when you can’t work, the career you’re forced to abandon, or the activities and relationships that change forever. They also don’t capture the emotional toll it takes on you and the people who love you. That’s why building a complete and accurate picture of your damages from the very beginning of a legal claim is so important.
How The Vance Law Firm Can Help
The Vance Law Firm works with medical experts, life care planners, and economic experts to ensure that every current and future cost is accounted for in your claim.
We understand that a spinal cord injury case isn’t just a legal matter. We’re talking about your life, your family, and your future. Our team approaches every case with the compassion and tenacity that catastrophic injury cases require.
We handle every aspect of your claim, including:
- A thorough investigation
- The gathering and preserving of evidence
- Identifying all liable parties
- Working with medical and financial experts
- Negotiating with insurance companies
- Taking cases to court when that’s what justice requires
We fight until you are fully and fairly compensated for everything you’ve been through and everything you’re facing in the future. Also, we represent clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case. There is no financial risk in reaching out.
Contact The Vance Law Firm for a Free Consultation
Our team of catastrophic injury lawyers understand that people who suffer spinal cord injuries deserve our compassion as well as our legal help.
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury in Montgomery or anywhere across Alabama, contact us for a free consultation. We are here to listen to the unique details of your claim, answer any questions you have, and lay out all of your options.
