Ocala Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys
A car accident, fall, assault, or gunshot wound can cause spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord injuries are no laughing matter. They are considered catastrophic, as they can cause lifelong disabilities, including paralysis. They can impact victims for the rest of their lives. Treatment can be extensive. Medical care can be expensive. What do you do? How do you afford to pay for all this? Turn to an Ocala spinal cord injury attorney for help with physical and financial recovery.
What Happens in a Spinal Cord Injury?
When the spine absorbs a sudden, traumatic blow, it can suffer an injury. The vertebrae may be compressed, fractured, or dislocated. An injury may cause permanent, complete paralysis, depending on the location. The spinal cord may be damaged in these parts:
- Cervical spine: the neck
- Thoracic spine: the upper back down to the ribcage
- Lumbar spine: lower back
- Sacral vertebrae: pelvis
Spinal cord injury symptoms will depend on the location. The higher up an injury occurs, the more severe it is. An injury to the cervical spine is the most severe. It can cause significant paralysis, as well as affect bowel and bladder control. It can also make it difficult to breathe.
While some spinal cord injury victims fully recover, many require 24/7 care for the rest of their lives. They cannot perform basic tasks such as getting dressed, bathing, eating, or using the bathroom. They cannot even walk and may require a wheelchair to get around. Because of this change in lifestyle, many victims develop emotional problems such as anxiety and depression.
Types of Paralysis From Spinal Cord Injuries
In many cases, spinal cord injury victims develop some form of paralysis, which is caused by nerve damage. When a person is paralyzed, it means they cannot move one or more parts of their body or sense touch. There are several types of paralysis:
- Monoplegia. This is when a person is paralyzed in one arm or one leg. This type of paralysis is most commonly caused by cerebral palsy, although a spinal cord injury can sometimes cause it.
- Hemiplegia. This refers to paralysis that occurs in both an arm and leg on the same side of the body. This is also most commonly caused by cerebral palsy, but can also be caused by a spinal cord injury.
- Tetraplegia. Once referred to as quadriplegia, this term means that a person has some degree of paralysis in all arms and legs.
- Paraplegia. This is when a person is paralyzed from the chest or waist down.
Contact an Ocala Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Today
Spinal cord injuries may require extensive hospitalization and rehabilitation. Surgeries may be needed. In some cases, victims become immobile and paralyzed for the rest of their lives.
Spinal cord injuries can be very costly to treat. You may rack up $1 million in medical expenses within a year. Seek legal help from the personal injury attorneys at Meldon Law. We can determine liability and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve for your damages. To schedule a consultation with an Ocala spinal cord injury attorney, call (800) 373-3000.
