Fort Lauderdale Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

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Fort Lauderdale Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

The spinal cord is the neural passageway that facilitates communication between the body and the brain. An injury to the spinal cord may disrupt communication and lead to areas of the body below the injury not effectively sending or receiving messages from the brain. If you or a loved one is dealing with a spinal cord injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, a Fort Lauderdale spinal cord injury lawyer can review your case and help determine if you can be compensated for the harm that was caused.

Why You Should Choose an Experienced Fort Lauderdale Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

If you are suffering from a spinal cord injury, your treatment and well-being are likely your top concerns. Hiring an experienced attorney can allow you to focus on recovery while your attorney handles the legal process. The Law Office of Alexander Alvarez can provide personalized and compassionate legal representation. The experienced spinal cord injury attorneys on staff have received various honors and awards for their understanding of personal injury claims.

The Law Office of Alexander Alvarez will discuss the specifics of your case in order to create a personalized strategy for receiving fair compensation. Damages in a spinal cord injury case often include past and future medical costs, wages lost due to the injury, the loss of earning potential, and pain and suffering.

Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries

The National Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Statistical Center reports that in the US, there are 18,000 new traumatic spinal cord injuries annually. The spinal cord controls movement and sensation in the body. Often, spinal cord injury leads to paralysis or numbness in the body.

To determine the severity of a spinal cord injury, a doctor will utilize the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury to test sensory and motor function. The spine is made up of 33 vertebrae that protect the spinal cord. The spinal cord is divided into five regions: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccyx.

If the entire spinal cord is completely severed, it is classified as a complete spinal cord injury. An injury where some connections remain intact is called an incomplete spinal cord injury. Injuries that affect more than one area or are higher on the spinal cord result in greater impact on the body’s function.

If a complete cervical spinal cord injury occurs, the result is quadriplegia, which results in paralysis of the arms and legs. A thoracic-level spinal injury may cause an individual to have difficulty with balance, posture, coughing, and breathing.

Lumbar spinal cord injuries only affect the lower body. Often, paralysis or weakness in the legs occurs, which makes balance and walking challenging. A sacral spinal cord injury impacts the bowel and bladder. Injuries in the coccygeal region typically lead to pain, discomfort, or complete loss of sensation in the area of the tailbone.

What Are the Most Common Ways to Sustain a Spinal Cord Injury?

Spinal cord injuries are typically caused by sudden force to the spine or trauma that results in a bruise, fracture, or pressure on the spinal cord. Vehicle crashes, including cars, motorcycles, and trucks, are the leading cause of spinal cord injury, comprising 37.5% of all incidents. The most common cause for individuals aged 65 and older is a premises accident, such as a fall.

Acts of violence account for 15.4% of injuries, such as a gunshot or stab wound to the spinal column. Sports or recreational accidents make up 8% of accidents. Another 3.7% of spinal cord injuries are the result of medical or surgical procedures.

Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms

The most common symptoms of spinal cord injury may include:

Loss of feeling in the torso, arms, or legs
Paralysis or weakness in the torso, arms, or legs
Muscle stiffness that prevents movement
Difficulty breathing
Heart rate and blood pressure problems
Loss of control over bladder and bowel

FAQs

Q: How Much Compensation May Be Awarded for a Spinal Cord Injury?

A: In Fort Lauderdale, the amount of compensation an individual is awarded for a spinal cord injury will vary. Factors that influence the amount of compensation will include the severity of the spinal cord injury. The medical costs involved in your case. The financial losses sustained due to the injury, including lost wages or reduced capacity for earning, may also be considered. Non-economic compensation may be assessed to compensate for pain, suffering, and emotional impact.

Q: How Much Does It Cost to Treat a Spinal Cord Injury?

Q: What Is the Average Life Expectancy for Someone With a Spinal Cord Injury?

Q: What Is the Leading Cause of Death in Spinal Cord Injury?