A spinal cord injury can be one of the most disastrous injuries a person can endure. Spinal cord injuries almost always result in unfathomable medical costs and expenses, especially in the case of paralysis or where extensive rehabilitation is necessary. If your spinal cord injury was caused by another party’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional wrongdoing, you may be able to hold them responsible for the high costs of your injury. A knowledgeable and experienced personal injury attorney can help you to receive the full amount of compensation to which you are entitled under the law.
The knowledgable personal injury attorneys from CHASENBOSCOLO have what it takes to win you the compensation you deserve. We are experienced in a wide range of personal injury cases, so we will be able to assist you no matter how you sustained your spinal cord injury. To learn more about how we can help you, contact us today at (301) 220-0050 to schedule a confidential case evaluation.
How Can CHASENBOSCOLO Help Me When I Have Been Injured?
Attorneys Barry M. Chasen and Benjamin T. Boscolo know how serious a spinal cord injury can be. An accident that affects the spine not only has the possibility of having a significant impact on your personal and financial life, but it can also cause mental anguish creating emotional stress, all of which can persist long after the accident.
Let the lawyers at CHASENBOSCOLO provide comfort and peace of mind. With a team of 25 lawyers and 90 professionals with over 100 years of combined experience, we have been helping those injured in accidents through no fault of their own across Maryland and Washington D.C. since 1986.
We have abided by our same mission for over thirty years. At CHASENBOSCOLO, we always put our clients first and we treat them like family. We know how important it is to provide compassion and comfort to clients during such an arduous time. We are a dedicated group of attorneys who prepare each and every case to go to trial, even in the event that trial is not likely or necessary. Such preparation allows us to obtain better outcomes for clients, as shown by our successful track record.
We always offer our No Fee Guarantee®. Under this guarantee, every potential client is provided with a free and confidential case evaluation so that we can help you to determine the best method for obtaining compensation for your injury. Our guarantee also ensures that we work on a contingency fee basis. This means that if we don’t recover damages, you owe us nothing. We also promise that you will pay no upfront expense. Instead, we will deduct these expenses from your settlement or verdict.
What Are Some Common Types of Spinal Cord Injuries?
While some spinal cord injuries are temporary, others can have repercussions for the rest of the injured person’s life. Some spinal cord injuries are incomplete. This means that the spinal cord is partially severed. It may allow the person to retain some function depending on the extent of the injury to the cord. Other spinal cord injuries are complete. This means that the spinal cord has been completely severed, denying function to the injured person. However, a complete spinal cord injury does not guarantee paralysis. A person who has suffered from a complete spinal cord injury may be able to regain some or all function via physical therapy or rehabilitation.
A spinal cord does not have to severed in order for some or all function to be lost or for paralysis to occur. This can also happen where the spinal cord is damaged due to crushing, compression, fractures, dislocation, and hyperextension.
Some common types of spinal cord injuries include:
- Compressions: This is the result of any activity that exerts pressure on the spine. While symptoms of this injury can result with regular wear and tear of the bones over time, it can also result more immediately where an injury, such as a car accident, causes the compression. Symptoms include stiffness in the neck and back, numbness in hands, feet, arms, and legs, and even loss of sensation in the extremities.
- Contusions: Contusions happen as a result of the spinal cord tissue being crushed. Like other bruises, there will be bleeding and inflammation at the injury site. However, a bruise to the spinal cord can cause more severe problems such as affecting other nerves that receive signals from the brain, numbness and tingling in extremities, and loss of sexual ability.
- Central Cord Syndrome: This results when there is an injury to the central part of the spinal cord. Injury to this area affects nerves carrying signals from the brain to the spinal cord. Damage here can result in paralysis to the arms and loss of fine motor skills.
It may be difficult to ascertain whether you have suffered from a spinal cord injury after an accident. Because of this, it is imperative to see a doctor immediately following an accident. However, there are some symptoms that you should look for if you think you’ve injured your spinal cord. These include:
- Problems with bladder or bowel function
- Numbness or tingling in hands, feet, arms, or legs, or paralysis of such
- Loss of sexual function
- Headaches
- Difficulty breathing
Note that this is not an exhaustive list of symptoms and that you may be suffering from a spinal cord injury in the absence of these symptoms.
What Are Some Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries?
Spinal cord injuries can result from any kind of accident or by the negligence of another, as a normal side effect of aging, or through certain types of activities and movements. Common causes of spinal cord injuries include:
- Car accidents: According to the Mayo Clinic, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in the United States. These accidents account for nearly one-half of new spinal cord injuries each year. If a car accident is the result of another person’s negligence and causes injury to your spinal cord, then you are likely entitled to compensation for your injuries.
- Sports and recreation-related accidents: High-impact sports such as football, hockey, rugby, and lacrosse carry with them the risk of severe injury. Additionally, diving in shallow areas can cause compression and fractures of the spine in neck. These injuries account for around ten percent of spinal cord injuries.
- Medical malpractice: A doctor has the duty to provide treatment and perform medical procedures according to the standard of care, meaning the same way that other competent doctors would in the same circumstances. If a doctor is negligent in providing medical treatment, and that negligence results in injury to your spinal cord, you may be entitled to compensation.
- Falls: Falls account for around fifteen percent of spinal cord injuries, and are a big risk for those 65 years of age and older. If you fell on someone else’s property due to a hazard they failed to fix or warn you about, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
- Workplace Injuries: Many jobs, especially those involving heavy lifting and repetitive motions, may result in spinal cord injuries. Should this happen, you may be entitled to worker’s compensation.
These are just a few common causes of spinal cord injuries that may allow you to pursue a claim for compensation. If you sustained a spinal cord injury due to the actions or inactions of another party in any way, however, contact CHASENBOSCOLO to see whether a personal injury claim may be an option for you.
What Type of Damages Can I Receive for a Spinal Cord Injury?
If an accident caused by the negligence of another person results in injury to your spinal cord, a skilled personal injury lawyer can help you to recover damages for your injuries. Your award can include compensation for losses including:
- Medical expenses – You may be entitled to recovery for medical bills including those resulting from hospital and doctor’s visits, rehabilitation and physical therapy, and prescription drugs. Additionally, you may be entitled to compensation for future medical expenses.
- Pain and suffering – Monetary damages can be recovered not only for the enduring pain as a result of an accident-related injury, but also for the emotional pain that comes along with the injury.
- Lost wages – A spinal cord injury can prevent you from returning to work because you can no longer perform the essential functions of a job. When this happens, you may be entitled to compensation for the wages you missed out on while out of work and your loss of earning capacity in the future.
- Disability – If your spinal cord injury results in a temporary or permanent disability, you may be able to recover compensation for all associated costs. This can include modifications to your home, home health workers, lost income, pain and suffering, and more.
- Wrongful death – When an accident results in a spinal cord injury that eventually causes the death of a loved one, the victim’s family may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim. This claim can include compensation for funeral expenses, lost financial support, and lost emotional support.
The size of your award will vary depending on the details of your case. When you contact a lawyer from CHASENBOSCOLO, we will be able to give you a better idea of how much money you can expect to earn.
Contact Us
If you’ve sustained a spinal cord injury due to another person’s negligence, do not hesitate to call the Washington, D.C. lawyers at CHASENBOSCOLO for help. We have offices in Hyattsville, MD, Waldorf, MD and Greenbelt, MD as well as in Falls Church, VA. Additionally, you can connect with us by calling (301) 220-0050, or by filling out an online contact form.
