Personal Injuries

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries involve injury to the spinal column which results in a loss of mobility or feeling. Spinal cord injuries are frequently caused by car accidents, gunshots, falls, sports, acts of violence or disease. Almost 11,000 people per year in the United States suffer a traumatic spinal cord injury. More than half the people who have suffered a spinal cord injury are between the ages of 16 and 30 years of age. More males suffer spinal cord injuries than females. The most common cause of a spinal cord injury is automobile crashes which account for approximately 36% of the injuries.

There are two categories for spinal cord injuries: complete and incomplete. A complete injury is an injury that does not allow any function below the level of the injury. An incomplete injury means that there is some functioning below the primary level of the injury. With the advancement in acute treatment of spinal cord injuries, incomplete injuries are becoming more common.

The level of the injury is very helpful in predicting what parts of the body might be affected by paralysis and loss of function. Generally, cervical (neck) injuries result in quadriplegia, which is loss of function below the neck. Depending on the level of the neck injury, a person may require a ventilator to breathe. C-5 injuries often result in shoulder and bicep control, but no control at the wrist or hand. C-6 injuries generally yield wrist control, but no hand function and C-7 and T-1 injuries will allow a person to straighten his/her arms, but cause dexterity problems with the hands and fingers.

Injuries at the thoracic level and below generally result in paraplegia. The hands are typically not affected. Beside a loss of sensation or motor functioning, individuals with spinal cord injuries may also experience dysfunction of the bowel and bladder. Sexual functioning is frequently affected. Other effects of spinal cord injuries may include low blood pressure, inability to regulate blood pressure effectively, reduced control of body temperature, inability to sweat below the level of injury and chronic pain.

In spinal cord injury cases it is very important that all evidence is preserved, that medical procedures are promptly reviewed, and that physicians or expert witnesses are able to thoroughly evaluate the accident record and injuries.

Damages in spinal cord injury cases are usually very substantial. The average cost of coping with a spinal cord injury in the first year can run as high as $500,000 for the most severe injuries. For each year after that, the average cost is approximately $100,000. These figures do not include any indirect damages such as lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment of life, and mental anguish. All of these damages continue throughout the life of a victim.

Davis & Feder P.A. represents Spinal Cord Injury victims throughout Mississippi and Alabama. We have offices located in Gulfport, Mississippi; Jackson, Mississippi; Mobile, Alabama; and Cleveland, Mississippi. Our attorneys handle Spinal Cord Injury claims from every geographical area, including Gulfport, Biloxi, Pascagoula, Hattiesburg, Mobile, Jackson, Montgomery, Dothan, Greenville, Greenwood, Natchez, Cleveland, and surrounding cities and towns.

If you or a loved one is a victim of spinal cord injury, call us at 1-866-857-8500. An experienced attorney will assist you in evaluating your claim.