New York Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

Like a brain injury, neck injury and broken bones, a spinal cord injury is one of the most serious types of injury that a victim can suffer in a car accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, construction accident or slip and fall accident. A spinal cord injury involves a cut, bruise or some other type of trauma to the bones or nerves that are part of the spinal cord resulting in reduced function in some part of the body. There are many types of spinal cord injuries. The type of spinal cord injury and its severity will determine how much function the victim loses as a result of the injury. Regardless of the severity most victims of spinal cord injuries require treatment, miss work, and suffer financially as they have to face substantial medical bills while they are unable to go to work. However, New York law allows those who suffer spinal cord injuries due to the negligence of another person or entity to seek damages from that person. If you or a loved one sustained a spinal cord injury due to the negligence or intentional act of another person or entity, contact an experienced New York Types of Spinal Cord Injuries Lawyer who will review the facts of your case and explain to you the process for pursuing a personal injury claim in order to pursue compensation from those responsible for your injuries.

There are several different types of spinal cord injuries characterized by the part of the spinal cord affected, including:

• 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.
• 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.
• Posterior cord syndrome is characterized by trauma to the back of the spinal cord, resulting in poor coordination.
• 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.
• Paraplegia is caused by injuries to the thoracic area of the spinal cord. With paraplegia there is paralysis or weakness of the legs along with bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction. In most cases, arms and hands are not affected.
• Quadriplegia is caused by cervical level injuries and causes paralysis or weakness in both the arms and legs

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.

It is important to understand that New York law has a specific time limit for filing a claim in a spinal cord injury case. 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 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 benefits 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. 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.