Shreveport Injury Lawyer > Blog > Spine Injury > Understanding Spinal Injury Claims

Understanding Spinal Injury Claims

Many different types of motor vehicle crashes and other serious incidents can result in spine injuries, or spinal cord injuries (SCIs), which can vary greatly in terms of their severity. In some cases, a person who sustains a spine injury may be able to recover fully with surgery, therapy, and other forms of health care. In many other instances, however, spinal injuries result in permanent disabilities. When SCIs cause permanent disabilities, those disabilities are often life-altering, affecting the person’s ability to walk, use their arms, and live independently. Indeed, many spinal cord injuries cause devastating paralysis. When a spine injury results from another party’s negligence or intentional act in Louisiana, it may be possible to file a lawsuit to seek compensation and to hold the negligent party accountable.

Commonly, serious spinal cord injuries and other types of spine injuries result from pedestrian collisions with automobiles, car crashes, large truck collisions, bicycle crashes, and other types of motor vehicle collisions. In some cases, incidents involving dog bites or workplace incidents can also lead to devastating spine injuries. Our Shreveport spine injury lawyers want to provide you with more information about these injuries.

What is a Spinal Injury?

A general spine injury, or spinal injury, is any injury that occurs in or around a person’s spine. A spine injury may include a fracture in the bones of the spine, for example, or an injury to the spinal cord. A spinal cord injury, or SCI, is a type of catastrophic injury that involves “damage to the bundle of nerves and nerve fibers that sends and receives signals from the brain,” according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A spinal cord injury can occur anywhere on the spinal cord, from just the lower part of a person’s brain down to the lower back.

Different Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

Generally, SCIs are classified as incomplete (meaning that the spinal cord is damaged but still has some function) or complete (meaning that there is no nerve communication any longer due to the injury).

Signs of a Spinal Cord Injury

Many different signs can be indicative of an injury to the spine or spinal cord, and some may be more nuanced in the early minutes and hours following the injury. Accordingly, it is critical to seek medical attention as soon as possible if there is any chance of a spine or spinal cord injury. Common signs include but are not limited to:

Numbness;
Tingling;
Pain;
Pressure;
Weakness;
Loss of bladder control;
Loss of bowel control;
Breathing difficulty;
Sexual function changes;
Walking problems; and/or
Paralysis.

Timeline for a Spinal Injury Claim in Shreveport

To file a lawsuit seeking compensation for a spine injury, you will need to file your lawsuit within one year from the date of the injury according to Louisiana law. Given the high cost associated with spine injuries, it is important to begin working with an attorney as soon as possible.

Contact a Shreveport Spine Injury Attorney Today

If you sustained a spine injury in a recent collision or someone you love suffered a devastating spinal cord injury, it may be possible to seek compensation by filing a spinal cord injury lawsuit in Louisiana. An experienced Shreveport spinal injury lawyer at Rice & Kendig, LLC can speak with you today about your injury and the circumstances that caused it, and we can begin working with you on your claim for compensation. Contact us today to find out about your options for seeking damages in the aftermath of a spine injury or paralysis in the Shreveport area.

Sources:

ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/spinal-cord-injury

legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?p=y&d=83443

By Rice & Kendig, LLC | Posted on March 19, 2024

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