Brooklyn Severity of Spinal Cord Injury

A spinal cord injury occurs when there is damage to the spinal cord. Spinal cord injuries vary in severity depending on the type of trauma and the location of the trauma. For example, a minor spinal contusion while painful is not as severe as a major spinal fracture suffered in a high-impact car accident. The most severe spinal cord injuries are complete injuries, while incomplete injuries are less severe. A “complete” spinal cord injury is an injury that leaves the victim with the complete loss of function below the point of the injury, while an “incomplete” injury refers to a spinal cord injury that leaves the victim with some feeling or movement below the point of injury. Roughly 40% of new spinal cord injuries each year are the result of a car accident, truck accident or some other type of motor vehicle accident. In other instances the injury is suffered in an act of violence such as a gunshot or stab injury or act of medical malpractice. Whether the injury is a complete or incomplete injury, New York law allows those injured due to the negligence or intentional act of another person or entity to seek damages from that person. If you sustained a spinal cord injury, contact an experienced Brooklyn Severity of Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer who will review the facts of your case and explain to you the process for file a personal injury claim in order to pursue compensation from those responsible for your injuries.

There are 4 types of complete spinal cord injuries.

1. Anterior cord syndrome is characterized by trauma to the front of the spinal cord, resulting in impaired movement, touch, pain, and temperature sensations below the point of injury.
2. Central cord syndrome is characterized by trauma to the center of the spinal cord, resulting in some movement in the legs and loss of function in the arms.
3. Posterior cord syndrome is characterized by trauma to the back of the spinal cord, resulting in poor coordination.
4. Brown-Sequard syndrome is characterized by damage to one side of the spinal cord, resulting in a loss of movement on one side of the body.

A complete spinal cord injury is an injury that results in no movement below the point of the injury. There are several types of paralysis that may be complete or incomplete, depending on the severity of the damage to the spinal cord.

• Quadriplegia: paralysis of all four extremities
• Paraplegia: paralysis of the legs
• Hemiplegia: paralysis of a single side of the body
• Monoplegia: paralysis of a single limb
• Diplegia: paralysis of the same body part on both sides (both legs, or both arms)

If you were injured in an accident or by an intentional act that resulted in a spinal cord injury, under New York law you have the right to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim. Victims who suffer from spinal cord injuries typically have significant medical bills. Such bills include not only emergency room and hospital bills related to treatment immediately after the accident, but also include what is often long-term physical therapy that is required to help the victim be able to regain muscle strength and the ability to perform activities of daily living. In addition, because spinal cord injury victims often have to miss a great deal of work or are unable to return to work at all, victims have the right to sue for lost wages and loss of earning capacity.

If your spinal cord injury was the result of a work-related accident, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. 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 suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident it is important that you 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. The staff at Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC is experienced in handling personal injury cases stemming from auto, truck, motorcycle, boat, and construction accidents, as well as wrongful death, product liability and medical malpractice claims. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case.