New York Posterior Cord Syndrome

Like a brain injury , a spinal cord injury is one of the most serious injuries that you can suffer in an accident. The most serious spinal cord injuries leave the victim paralyzed. Serious spinal cord injuries involve a cut, lesion or bruise to the spinal cord and can be divided into two general categories: complete injuries and incomplete injuries. An incomplete spinal cord injury occurs when there is partial damage to the spinal cord. A complete spinal cord injury occurs when the damage to the spinal cord is absolute, causing complete and permanent loss of function below the level of the injury. An example of an incomplete spinal injury is a posterior cord syndrome injury which involves damage towards the back of the spinal cord. A person suffering from posterior cord syndrome may maintain good muscle power, pain and temperature sensation, but may experience difficulty in coordinating movement of their limbs. A posterior cord syndrome injury can occur in a variety of types of accidents such as a car accident, truck accident , motorcycle accident, construction accident, boat accident and slip and fall accident. If you sustained a posterior cord syndrome injury in an accident that would not have happened but for the negligence of another person, contact an experienced New York Posterior Cord Syndrome Lawyer who will review your case and help you file a personal injury claim in order to receive damages that will compensate you for your medical expenses and other losses you suffered as a result of the accident.

Thomas Thompson was riding his motorcycle when he a car ran through a red light and collided with him. Thompson was thrown off of the motorcycle, landing on his back and neck. At the scene of the accident Thompson complained of numbness over his trunk, arms and legs. He also reported posterior neck numbness. However, he retained ability to move his legs. Over the next few months the Thompson showed a progressive increase in strength and sensation improved. While proprioception and vibration eventually returned to normal in his arms, he continued to have significant problems with proprioception in his legs. After several months of therapy Thompson was able to safely move around with a walker, but he continued to have difficulty in coordinating movement of his legs. He was unable to walk at night without lights.

Victims suffering from posterior cord syndrome may require long-term physical and occupational therapy. While some may be able to recover fully enough to return to everyday activities at home and work, others may have permanent functional deficits. Bills related to treatment and therapy could easily skyrocket. However, under New York law if your spinal injury was the result of a car accident, construction accident, slip and fall accident, or some other type of accident due to another person’s negligence, you have the right to file a personal injury claim against the negligent party and demand compensation for your losses.

It is important to understand that New York law has a specific time limit for filing a claim in a spinal cord injury case. This time limit is referred to as the statute of limitations. If you do not file your claim within the time period, you will be forever barred from collecting damages even if your case has merit. In addition, if the party responsible for your injury was a government entity then there are special procedures you must follow to file a claim.

If your posterior cord syndrome was the result of a work-related accident, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. New York's workers' compensation laws state that injured parties are entitled to compensation if they sustain a work-related injury. Compensation often comes in the form of medical expenses, lost income and benefits, loss of ability to earn, and more. However, it is important to know that worker’s compensation benefits are limited. Just because the accident occurred at work does not necessarily mean that you are limited to the benefit available through workers’ compensation.

If you or a loved one was injured in an accident that resulted in a posterior cord syndrome injury or another serious spinal cord injury, contact an experienced attorney who understands both the legal issues associated with personal injury cases as well as the medical issues associated with injuries to the spine. Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC is experienced in handling personal injury and wrongful death cases stemming from auto, truck, motorcycle, boat, and construction accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case.