Spinal Injury

A spinal injury is one of the most traumatic injuries—physically, emotionally, and financially—a person can sustain and is often the result of auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, ATV rollovers, and other motor vehicle crashes. Every year in the United States, nearly 15,000 people experience a spinal injury, 10,000 of which suffer permanent paralysis or death.

If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal injury as the result of another party’s negligence or wrongdoing, you may be eligible to seek compensation for your losses. The qualified and compassionate attorneys at O’Mara & Padilla have extensive experience handling spinal injury cases and can help you through this rough time. Please contact us today for a complimentary case evaluation.

Types of Spinal Injuries

The spinal cord measures about 18 inches in length and extends from the bottom of the brain all the way to the waist. Bundles of nerves in the spinal column carry impulses and messages to and from the brain, making the spinal cord an essential part of the central nervous system. If these nerves are severed or damaged, it may result in the complete or partial loss of bodily function, including movement and/or sensation. Typically, the higher the spinal injury, the more severe the consequences. A spinal injury is classified in two ways:

• Tetraplegia (formerly called quadriplegia)—Paralysis, or loss of feeling and movement, throughout the upper and lower body.
• Paraplegia—Paralysis only in the lower parts of the body.

Other physical effects of a spinal injury may include bladder or bowel dysfunction, possible loss of fertility in men, loss of ability to breathe, low blood pressure, minimized body temperature control, chronic pain, and more.

Common Causes of Spinal Injuries

Severe spinal injuries including paraplegia and tetraplegia can happen to anyone at anytime. In fact, about 36 to 44.5 percent of all spinal cord injuries are the result of car crashes, motorcycle accidents, SUV and ATV rollovers, and other motor vehicle accidents. Other common causes of a spinal injury include violence, falls, and sport accidents.

Your Legal Rights

Losing function in any body part is physically and psychologically devastating, not to mention the future implications of such an injury like the reduced enjoyment of life, lost earning or income capacity, medical costs, and the readjustment to daily life. If you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury due to another party’s recklessness or negligence, you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover your damages. Let us help you. Please contact us contact O’Mara & Padilla today FREE of charge to learn more about your legal rights and options.