Spinal cord injuries are much different from many other injuries. When the spinal cord is injured, the damage can be permanent, affecting the sensation and strength in the arms and/or legs. Recovering from a spinal cord injury is extremely intensive, so if you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury because of someone else’s negligence, you need to contact a DC Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer as soon as possible.
The Spinal Cord
Every body part has its role, so each is important, but the spinal cord is “ground zero” for all the working parts. Think of the brain and spinal cord as the lead actors and the other body parts as the supporting cast. When an arm is broken, you can use the other one and adapt accordingly. When a leg is broken, you can still move from point A to point B. However, when an individual suffers a traumatic brain injury, or spinal cord is damaged, the entire body is affected in several areas.
Many people think of the spinal cord as a line of bones, but it is much more. Along the bones that serve as the foundation of the spinal cord are also a column of nerves that receive messages from the brain. The spinal cord then relays that message from the brain to the rest of the body and the message initially sent from the brain is then performed by its designated body part. Without the fully functioning spinal cord, the nerve-center is disrupted, and the brain’s messages are no longer received and sent out to the rest of the body.
Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury
Both the location and severity of the injury determines if and how the arms and/or legs are affected. Medical professionals will then diagnose the injury as complete or incomplete. A complete injury occurs when the patient has lost all ability to control limb movement. If there is some movement of the limbs, the injury is referred to as incomplete. The ability to move their limbs with an incomplete spinal cord injury and how much they can move their arms and legs varies from patient to patient.
Some of the most common spinal cord injury symptoms noted by a DC Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer include:
- Loss of senses and/or numbness in arms and legs (can’t feel cool, heat and touch)
- Tingling in limbs and or fingers and toes
- Stinging in the head, neck or back
- Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath
- Difficulty coughing
- Loss of bowel and/or bladder control
- Feeling faint
- Compromised balance
What to Do If You Suspect Someone Else Has a Spinal Cord Injury
There are things you should and should not do if you suspect someone has a spinal cord injury. Your DC Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer says:
- Do call 9-1-1 immediately
- Do follow all the instructions from the 9-1-1 operator
- Do stay very calm
- Do stay with the individual until help arrives
- Don’t move the person (this could cause more damage and worsen the injury severely)
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
There isn’t one particular way a spinal cord injury can take place. Any accident can lead to a spinal cord injury. Your DC Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer says some of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries include:
- Car Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
DC Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, someone else could very well be held liable for your injuries. A spinal cord injury is very serious and at the very least, requires extensive treatment for heal to it’s fullest potential following an accident.
Attorney Lawrence S. Lapidus is your DC Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer at The Lapidus Law Firm. He has four decades of experience in obtaining fair and reasonable settlements in injury cases.
Call today for a free consultation at (202) 785-5111. Your team of DC spinal cord injury lawyers will get to work on your case immediately and your medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering will be at the top of their list when they fight relentlessly for your fair and reasonable settlement. Call us for a free no obligation consultation. The firm will welcome your call!