Spinal Cord Injuries

The Facts, Costs and Pitfalls

Of all the various organs and structures in the human body, nothing is more important to our mobility than the spinal cord. It is a remarkably complex system of bones, cartilage and nerves that acts as a switchboard from the brain to practically every working muscle in the human body. The difference between a fracture of any other bone in the body and damage to the spinal cord is that with a spinal injury, bone fragments or torn ligaments can damage the axons, which are extensions of nerve endings that control the signals between the brain and other parts of the body. This is nerve damage that does not heal, despite the eventual rebuilding of the surrounding spinal bones. Some spinal injuries are minor to the point where a complete recovery is possible, while some result in partial or total paralysis.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries: Incomplete and Complete

An incomplete spinal cord injury occurs when the trauma does not result in the total loss of movement and feeling below the site of the injury. Some victims regain motor control spontaneously, and some recover after rehabilitation, and some never recover at all. Regardless of the outcome, a lengthy hospital stay, expensive rehabilitation and a loss of wages is a certainty.

A complete spinal cord injury occurs when the victim has total paralysis below the site of the injury. Complete injuries that take place lower down on the spinal cord result in paraplegia, which is the loss of feeling and mobility in the legs. If the injury takes place closer to the neck, the end result is quadriplegia, which is total paralysis, or no feeling or mobility from the neck down.

Recommended Web Site: Davidson College Spinal Cord Information Site

The Costs of Spinal Cord Injury

While expenses of paraplegia are great, the costs of quadriplegia are exponentially more. Quadriplegics need 24 hour care, and many can only breathe with a respirator. The average cost for initial hospitalization is $140,000, and the lifetime expenses of these injuries can range from $400,000 to $1.4 million dollars.

And these are only the medical expenses. There is still a loss of wages from an inability to work, and the emotional toll is impossible to quantify. The victim has to adjust to a vastly changed existence, and the friends and loved ones have to adjust as well.

Recommended Web Site: Christopher Reeve Foundation

Insurance Companies: Striking While the Victim is Uninformed and Bewildered

Insurance companies will go out of their way to avoid paying a fair settlement to injury victims. Quite often, the first thing they do upon news of a costly claim is try to contact the victim with an offer that is far from adequate. The idea is to get the victim to accept a low number before they realize the sort of costs that will pile up. Taking such a settlement can result in the victims and their families being left in a truly desperate financial situation.

At Perez Law, we know what a fair settlement looks like. We know the financial and emotional costs of a spinal cord injury. And most importantly, we know the law. If you or a loved one has been injured and has suffered damage to your spinal cord, call us. We will fight for your rights and make sure that your needs will be met.