Spinal cord injury is widely thought to be the kind of dramatic fate that befalls “other people.”  However, there are an estimated 200,000 people in the United States currently affected by this very condition.  These aren’t reckless daredevils whose luck has finally caught up with them, but the victims of motor vehicle accidents, same-level falls, and sporting injuries.  Spinal cord injury is a potentially devastating affliction that can strike anyone, whether or not they tempt fate.

Fortunately, modern science is blazing new trails into the field of spinal cord injury treatment, raising the hope that it may not always be as debilitating as it can be now.  Medical doctors and robotics engineers alike are hard at work coming up with new ways to limit initial deterioration and to help injury victims recover lost abilities.  Read on to learn about some of the exciting treatments that are currently in development:

1. Ependymal Cell Replacement

At the present time, stem cell transplantation therapy allows doctors to take neural stem cells—which have the ability to develop into different kinds of cells and thus replenish those that perish en masse in an injury—and expand them in vitro to be relocated to the place of injury.  To an extent, this stimulates the body to heal itself; but the effectiveness of this method depends largely on the acceptance of stem cells by the immune system.  To avoid this problem, researchers are looking for a way to stimulate this healing noninvasively.

It seems now that ependymal cells are the key.  Ependymal cells are neuron support cells that line the ventricles (cerebrospinal fluid-filled cavities) in the spinal column’s central canal.  Their functions include transporting nutrients to neurons, removing and digesting debris, making fatty myelin sheaths to insulate neurons and to speed impulses along, etc. 

Oligodendrocytes are a type of ependymal cell that manufactures and supplies myelin; it is believed if these could be somehow manipulated to greater heights on site of spinal cord injuries, healing would be faster and more complete and remove the necessity for so much probing around in the injured area.  (A more recent study suggests that this method might even reverse paralysis.)

2. eLegs

In 2010, a game-changing product called eLegs was introduced into supervised rehabilitation centers.  “[The] artificially intelligent bionic device [that] allows people who have lost function of their legs to stand and walk” was developed in the Berkeley Robotics and Engineering Lab as an exoskeleton strapped on with Velcro.  While eLegs are not the first exoskeleton-based walking device for paralytics, they claim that their improved knee flexion technology makes walking more natural than do other such products.  Whether or not Berkeley’s eLegs live up to the promises of their developers, one thing is clear:  wheelchairs are no longer the only option for those who have lost the use of their legs.

3. Riluzole

When someone sustains a spinal cord injury, the damage far exceeds that done to the disjointed spinal column, itself:  when the delicate tissue within the spinal column is pinched, compressed, or otherwise disturbed, it continues to stretch, tear, or swell after the blow has done its work.  The injury keeps expanding long after the initial mechanism has left the picture.    

Recent inquisition into the matter suggests that the neuroprotective qualities of riluzole, a drug used to lessen the symptoms of amytrophic lateral sclerosis (or Lou Gehrig’s disease), may make the drug valuable in protecting spinal cord cells from further damage during the latter waves of injury.

Given the possible losses in quality of life, earning potential, etc. that major injury of this sort can carry with it, no help should be withheld from the victims merely because an insurance company (their own or that of an accident’s author) is unwilling to foot the bill.  If you or someone close to you is suffering from a spinal cord injury, but lacks the resources to seek adequate treatment and/or rehabilitation, personal injury attorneys like Christensen & Hymas are there to help you take advantage of all the resources available to you.  For a free initial consultation, call their office at (801) 506-0800.

Image courtesy of Ekso Bionics

In 2008, the Allen Institute for Brain Science constructed the Allen Spinal Cord Atlas to map gene expression in the spinal column.  The Atlas, which is used by researchers and health care professionals alike, facilitates understanding of brain and spinal cord injuries by marking specific regions to functions and, it follows, specific injuries to losses of function. 

Such research is useful because there is no such thing as a localized spinal cord injury—as part of the brain stem, your spinal cord is connected to other bodily areas and processes.  Speedy termination and mitigation of spinal cord damage can mean drastically improved prospects for recovery.  The usual course of action taken by medical professionals to halt the spread of spinal cord injury are as follows:

1. Containment of Damage

Generally, a spinal cord injury involves a displacement of vertebrae that injures the tissue running through the spinal column.  In the time immediately following this displacement, the spinal cord may tear, swell, and bleed, which spreads the damage to other areas of the brain stem.  Therefore, spinal cord injury treatment should ideally begin on-site and lead quickly into an emergency room.  During the first stage of care, the spine is stabilized to prevent further trauma while the patient is transported to the hospital.  

2. Stabilization

If the first stage can be compared to the arrival of firefighters at a roaring blaze, the next stage involves their enclosure of the fire and the start of efforts to put it out.  Once in the emergency room, doctors will first ascertain that the victim can breathe (since a swelling spinal cord may cut off blood to the brain and other areas).  The medics administer shock treatment to prevent complications in later steps.  Next, the patient’s other basic functions—elimination, blood flow, etc.—are checked for normalcy.  

3. Medication

There are three types of medications that are administered to control the spread of spinal cord damage:  anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-excitotoxin.  Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory medications administered right away to keep the immune system from turning on itself.  An especially widely-used anti-inflammatory medication, methylprednisolone, prevents neural death by reducing swelling when given within 8 hours of the injury.  When administered under the right conditions, such medications can prevent a continuation of immediate harm and speed recovery later on.  

While the importance of rehabilitation cannot be overemphasized, the first response often determines the how well and how soon a spinal cord injury can heal.  There is no time to worry about money or stress about getting time off work for doctor’s appointments:  no spinal cord injury victim should be forced to choose between life/quality of life and livelihood.  

Unfortunately, serious injuries of this sort often leave the victim wondering if they will have to do just that.  Sometimes the available resources simply aren’t enough, and people need to try another approach.  In cases where the injury in question resulted from another person’s careless act or omission and/or the insurance provider’s practical application of policy disagrees with theory, this approach may be a personal injury attorney.  Unlike insurance, they won’t charge you until you are paid damages; and they have no reason to market to those who don’t actually need them.

If you are a Utah resident struggling with a spinal cord injury, Christensen & Hymas offers free initial consultations at (801) 506-0800 or booklets at 1-800-LAW-BOOK.  Don’t put off needed treatment because you currently lack the funds to cover it:  the cost of unattended spinal cord injury is higher than what money can pay.

Image courtesy of Michael Dorausch

When someone sustains a spinal cord injury following an auto collision, a stumble over a jutting rock, or an act of violence, they are entitled to seek compensation from the author of their misfortune.  However, the process of filing a claim can be complicated and taxing to the lay person who, let us hope, does not deal with it on a regular basis.  Insurance companies are designed to take advantage of small errors in an effort to deny the validity or timeliness of a claim.  The roadblocks encountered in the process of filing for compensation can feel like a second blow in itself. 

As always, forewarned is forearmed.  It is best to know soon what actions at or near the accident can make things easier in the future—and thus, the reason for this article.  In all personal injury cases, it must be proven that there was a duty to protect the vicinity, that the conditions leading up to the accident were caused by negligence, and that they were a proximate cause of the injury.  To find out how this applies to spinal cord injuries, read on.

 1.   Proof that the entity against whom the claim is filed had a responsibility to take certain precautions.

The operators of a business, premises, or other area open to members of the public have a duty to ensure that those who enter therein are secure from whatever hazards they can reasonably be expected to anticipate and prevent.  Whether the people entering the area are customers, patrons, employees, or anyone legally permitted on the property, they have a right to assume that no harm will befall them as they shop, study, or tread across the grounds. 

It is important, when filing a claim, to determine correctly who is answerable for injuries occurring on the premises.  In many cases, there are several culpable parties—the owner of a store, the proprietor of the building, or a fellow citizen behaving recklessly.  If you are in a rut, a personal injury attorney can help track down the powers that be.

 2.   Proof that the entity in question reneged on their responsibility.

This may not be as difficult as it sounds:  Forty percent of spinal cord injuries result from motor vehicle accidents, which often have several witnesses and almost invariably leave dramatic evidence when they are serious enough to have caused a spinal cord injury.  The second most common causes, slip/fall accidents, also frequently happen on scenes with photographable evidence—a wet floor, a protruding board, etc.  It is the victim’s job (insofar as they are able) to determine a timeline, formulate an accurate narrative to the best of their ability, and establish that the hazard could have been prevented with moderate foresight. 

 3.   Proof that the accident was the result of their negligence.

One means used to prevent spinal cord accident victims from claiming remuneration is to assert that the hazard could not have been enough to cause such an injury.  While an actual forensic investigation into the possibility is unlikely (most personal injury cases settle out of court), this is a place where witness statements—and, not improbably, the clout lent by an attorney—come in handy. 

 4.   Proof that the injury resulted from that accident 

To prove that a spinal cord injury took place as a direct result of the accident, rather than the culmination of a number of preexisting conditions is somewhat more difficult.  The opinion of a medical professional (or multiple medical professionals) is a great start; but insurance companies employ their own doctors to posit that the injury had other roots.  Here, the help of a personal injury attorney can be especially valuable, should you run into a dispute. 

If you are currently struggling to make ends meet after a spinal cord accident, and it seems that the cards are stacked against you, don’t prolong your adversity any further—for a fair contingency fee, Christensen & Hymas can represent you in extenuating circumstances.  For a free initial consultation to determine that their services would be worth your while, call (801) 506-0800.

An injury to the spinal cord can drastically change the trajectory of a life. A promising career, a fulfilling social life and the comforts of family can all be devastated by an injury that can occur in a moment. Spinal cord injuries can happen in car accidents or at work or even while working around the home. When they do happen the effects are terrible. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) 52% of spinal cord injuries result in the individual being a paraplegic. What makes these injuries so tragic is that they can affect the young as well as the old. The CDC estimates that the average age of the 11,000 new spinal cord injury patients each year is 31, with 56% of the patients being between the ages of 16 and 30.

The Costs

Following a spinal cord injury the average stay in the hospital is about 15 days. That is hardly the end of the injury, however, because on average there is an additional 44 days of rehabilitation. Thanks to the nation’s dedicated healthcare professionals sufferers of such a serious injury can regain some semblance of their old lives. Unfortunately all of that care can be expensive. The average initial hospital bill for someone with a spinal cord injury is $140,000. Then the cost of rehabilitation during the first year following the injury costs an average of $198,000.

For the 52% of patients that are paraplegics the costs are even greater. The cost to care for a paraplegic adds an additional $152,000 to the first year expense and the estimated lifetime cost of care for a paraplegic that is injured at the age of 25 is $428,000.

If the injury is even more serious the costs are even higher. The cost of healthcare for quadriplegics is on average $417,000 in the first year and the lifetime cost is $1.35 million (for someone injured at the age of 25).

Compounding the added health care costs is the loss of income that many injured people suffer. A shocking 63% of individuals were still out of work 8 years after the date of the injury.

To make matters worse the National Association of Health Underwriters estimates that only 52% of individuals are covered by private insurance at the time of injury.

Arguing for negligence

 As noted above, a spinal cord injury can happen anywhere but the most common causes are:

• Car accidents (37%)
• Violence (28%)
• Falls (21%)
• Sports injuries (7%)

As is seen here, the two most common causes of these injuries are usually due to someone else’s negligence or downright inexcusable behavior. Despite this, many victims of car accidents and violence who suffer spinal cord injuries are left to cover the costs of their healthcare and lost wages well after the insurance companies have come and gone.

For this reason, anyone who has suffered a spinal cord injury is urged to seek the help of an attorney that specializes in these kinds of cases. An attorney will take your case to the insurance companies and to court and argue that it be termed a case of negligence.

Negligence in everyday speech simply means someone was careless or irresponsible and therefore should be held responsible for their consequences. The attorney will show that the person responsible, whether it is the other driver in a car accident or anyone at fault in a different type of accident, was not acting in a reasonable manner and because of this caused the accident.

To do this, the attorney will usually compile police reports, testimonies from eye witnesses, personal testimonies from the parties involved and medical opinions from the doctors that treated the victim’s injury. Once the attorney has the necessary evidence to prove that someone else was indeed responsible, he will work until a fair settlement has been reached that factors in medical costs, the expected loss of income and emotional stress that the injury caused.

If you or a loved one has experienced the trauma of a debilitating spinal cord injury and don’t know how those medical bills will be covered, you may be missing some funding from insurance companies. Don’t try to take on insurance companies alone. The personal injury advocates of Christensen & Hymas can provide a free consultation to see if they can help your case. Contact us at (801) 506-0800 today.

The spine is a column of connected bones, called vertebrae, which protect a strand of delicate neural tissue running through the apertures of the spine, called neural foramina.  Each vertebra is bolstered by a cushiony layer called a disc, which absorbs shocks and assists in fluid movement of the spine.  Spinal cord injury occurs when the strength of the discs is compromised, throwing the vertebrae out of alignment and bruising, crushing, or otherwise damaging the neural tissue encased in the foramina.

Captivating as these human biological terms may be, they’re not terribly useful on a practical level.  Knowing what happens in a spinal cord injury is interesting, but may not be helpful to those concerned about preventing or seeking treatment for spinal cord injuries. Some other pertinent questions to ask would be, “What forces cause the spine to curve, stretch, or fracture to an extent that causes injury?” and “How and in what contexts are these forces typically exerted?”   When do spinal cord injuries arise, and can they be prevented?

It is generally agreed that spinal cord injuries occur most often in 5 sets of circumstances—auto accidents, slips and falls, assaults, athletic injuries, and certain illnesses.  For more details on the factors that influence the incidence and severity of spinal cord injuries, read on: 

1. Auto accidents

There are many avenues to spinal cord injury in an auto accident—a sudden change in velocity alone can cause whiplash or a similar injury; and sudden hard impact can do even worse harm.  Even if the spine is not actually bent or broken by contact with an external object, the force of speed by itself put enormous pressure on the vertebrae or even push them out of place.  Even when there is no immediate pain following an auto accident, spinal cord injury should not be automatically ruled out.

2. Slips and falls

Like auto accidents, many slips and falls culminate in an abrupt halt.  Sometimes the victim of a slip and fall injury may land against a chair or some other object that places disproportionate stress on one point in the spine; at other times, as when a person falls flat on their back, the injury may be caused by a quick, hard landing.  In any case, a slip and fall injury that results in acute or prolonged back pain should be examined by a medical professional. 

3. Assault

Violently inflicted spinal cord injuries are not just an exaggerated punishment some muscle-bound supervillain inflicts on Batman; they are unfortunately quite possible in the realm outside of Gotham.  In fact, violence is among the top causes of spinal cord injury.  Should you ever find yourself subjected to a physical beating, that person may be accountable to pay your damages, as well as their debt to society if the violent act was more than merely reckless.

4. Athletic injuries

There’s a reason why athletes are told to stretch and warm up extensively before beginning practice—the body is more vulnerable to injury if its muscles, ligaments, etc. have not been properly primed for their activity.  The spinal cord is particularly likely to sustain an injury if it has not been prepared for the twisting, craning, etc. it will undergo throughout the course of an exercise session.  In addition, falls and sudden impacts are more likely in a sporting environment.  Special care should be taken before, during, and after athletic exertion to ensure that the spine does not suffer lasting harm.

5. Illness

Diseases that affect the ligaments and/or skeletal system can be detrimental to the spinal cord, as well.  Arthritis, osteoporosis, and cancer can cause swelling and inflammation in the vicinity of the spinal cord and expand into the spinal cord, itself.  Individuals suffering from such ailments should ask their health care provider about the possibility that their condition has or might lead to a spinal cord injury.

While many spinal cord injuries are the outcome of tragic blunders or genetic predisposition, others follow preventable accidents caused by inexcusable oversights.  In such cases, the victims of spinal cord injury are owed compensation by the one responsible for it—the owner or proprietor of a property or any person conducting themselves irresponsibly in a public space.  If you think you or a loved one may fit the bill for a victim of negligence and would like to explore your options for seeking compensation, don’t wait for your condition to worsen:  Call personal injury attorneys Christensen & Hymas at (801) 506-0800 for a free consultation.

Spinal cord injuries are given a terrible rap on television and the movies.  To cite a particularly pointed example, the plot of Million Dollar Baby comes to an unnecessarily tragic end when the protagonist’s protégé, Maggie, chooses euthanasia over quadriplegia in an act of cowardice that flies in the face of the strength her character is celebrated for.  Even though Maggie has overcome the challenges of an unsupportive, leeching family and a sexist society that doesn’t believe in her, the thought of going on as a quadriplegic is more than she can bear; and she asks her manager to put an end to her life.  What might have been another triumph for Maggie turns into a reinforcement of ableism, and the film comes to a melancholy close.

Such a defeatist attitude is an insult to the accomplishments of those who do live full and productive lives with spinal cord injuries.  Spinal cord injuries, even dramatic ones, do not spell the end of a person’s life, or of their quality of life.  What they probably do require is some adjustment—adjustment that can be made when the injured person receives competent care, including spinal cord rehabilitation.

Because such treatment can be expensive, those whose injury can be traced to negligence might seriously consider enlisting a spinal cord injury attorney to help them come to a settlement with the responsible party.  A spinal cord injury attorney well-versed in both the needs of injured individuals and the laws in place to prevent injury is more likely to facilitate a low-conflict resolution to a given dispute without compromising on their client’s deserts.

Whatever your particular situation, spinal cord injury is not a signal that you should surrender.  All it entails for certain is sufficient courage and flexibility to adapt to new challenges.

Playing games with friends is a past time of most adults.  There is something special about getting together with like-minded individuals to have a night of fun and diversion.  For Tere Parra, a young woman from Mexico, games in the park with friends turned out to be a life altering experience.

KSL5 reported that Tere was in Provo Canyon at the Big Springs Park playing their version of the ‘Hunger Games.’  The object of the game was less sinister than the fictional version written by Suzanne Collins, but nonetheless, turned out with dire consequences.  Instead of smashing a package of crackers strapped to Terre’s body, as was the object of the game for her opponents, she fell 20 feet from the top of a tree and smashed her spine, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down.

The staff at Christensen & Hymas express their deepest condolences to Tere and her family.  Life altering events like this one have lasting effects, effects known well to personal injury attorneys.  Tere’s optimism and faith are great examples to the whole community.  We are grateful for Tere’s ability to share her light with those around her.

Compensation Available through a Personal Injury Attorney

One may wonder why this story would be pertinent to a Utah personal injury lawyer blog, especially when the injury was not caused by another’s negligent actions.  Other than to wish Tere a swift recovery and to thank her for her optimism, this story illustrates two important reminders for anyone.

The first reminder is the importance of having proper insurance.  Personal injury lawyers deal with many life altering injuries such as spine breaks and brain trauma.  There is a great need for long-term help and support after an accident like these, both financially and physically.  The purpose behind having proper and adequate insurance coverage is that if an injury was caused, it would be the insurance company who would pay the medical bills, which can amass quickly.

The second reminder, as briefly stated earlier, is the fact that a personal injury case can only be viable if the injury can be proven to have been caused by the negligent actions of someone else.  In Tere’s case, her own actions and choices led to the injury, therefore, she would have a difficult time proving that it was someone else’s fault and thus, would have no case.

In conclusion, it must be said that having insurance is important for any accident victim, but when coupled with the provable fact that the injury was caused by the direct actions of another, then the victim could seek out a personal injury lawyer in order to secure compensation.

If you personally do not have insurance, and you incur injuries due to the careless actions of another, you can seek compensation through the insurance company of the at-fault party with the help of a personal injury attorney.

If you have been injured by the careless actions of another, call Christensen & Hymas at (801) 506-0800.

Loss of sensation.  Restricted mobility.  Compromised coordination.  Trouble breathing.  The drastic and life-changing effects of spinal cord injuries can follow a catastrophe lasting only a moment.  Likewise, the action following that moment determines how quickly or completely the victim can recover from an accident.  The time directly following damage to the spinal cord is of the essence; the last thing you should have to worry about is how you will foot the bill for the medical attention you need to ensure the quickest, most thorough improvement possible.  After all, no monetary sum can compensate for diminished ability, quality of life, or the pain suffered in a spinal cord injury.

However, it cannot be denied that, for most people, money is an object.  The costs of treating a spinal cord injury can be astronomical, and too many people find themselves wondering whether they must choose between their health and their family’s financial well-being (or feel obligated to remove treatment from the equation, altogether).  Many suffer with this burden because they have fallen prey to circumstance—often, a circumstance that bespeaks negligence on the part of an individual or institution that bears a responsibility to ensure that others are safe in their vicinity or on the premises.  When any entity authors an occasion on which a person may be hurt, they are required by law to make reasonable recompense for their oversight.  Because at-fault parties are not always willing to offer timely, voluntary assistance, and because insurance companies are notoriously slippery, a Utah spinal cord injury lawyer may be needed to advise and advocate for victims of common spinal cord injury scenarios.

Three Injury Scenarios Where Fault May Be Assignable

The bad news that the greater part of these potentially weighty accidents results from carelessness is tempered somewhat by the good news that negligent parties are required to defray the costs accrued because of their error.  Below is a list of three of the most common causes of spinal cord injury—and three cases in which a spinal cord injury lawyer can procure help in coping with the red-taped aftermath.

1.      Slip and Fall Injuries

According to a survey by the Dana and Christopher Reeve Foundation, fall injuries cause 9% of spinal cord injuries.  Although those most at risk for slip and fall injuries are those who, because of age or infirmity, have delicate bones, falling hazards present a risk to everyone.  No matter how sure-footed you may be, traction, gravity, and visibility of hazards are not wholly under your control.  Failure to notify customers, visitors, etc. of a spill or ledge in walking space can make the proprietor liable for any harms incurred as a result of the same.  If the slip and fall occurs in a public location, several parties may be held responsible.  A spinal cord injury lawyer will know who to call and how to guarantee their cooperation.

2.      Motor Vehicle Accidents

 A whopping 24% of spinal cord injuries occur on roadways.  Indeed, there are a number of ways for mayhem to develop in an environment inhabited by speeding metal conveyances—a roof may be crushed; a seat belt may squeeze; windows may collapse.  Many spinal cord injuries from car accidents can result from a combination of driver error and automobile malfunction.  Spinal cord injury lawyers are adept at going to battle with the protectors of automobile companies and the insurance providers of careless drivers.  Because vehicular mishaps are generally contentious affairs, a spinal cord injury lawyer may often act as a buffer between an accident victim and brute intimidation.

3.      Workplace Injuries

28% percent of spinal cord injuries are exacted in the workplace.  Spinal cord injuries can arise in a variety of ways at work:  a slip and fall (as mentioned above), a twist in the spine while lifting heavy objects, etc.  Employers are particularly accountable for the safety of their workers and should take workplace injuries very seriously.  However, depending on the size of the company, insurance claims may quickly add up to an exacting financial burden that they will either not wish to carry or will bear only when substantial proof is given.  A spinal cord injury lawyer knows how to gather evidence to support your claim and ensure the most favorable compensation for you.

The longer you wait to seek treatment for a spinal cord injury, the more difficult it will be to reverse the damage.  Don’t wait until it’s too late—if you have been injured and have any question as to whether you may qualify for compensation, call the Christensen Law Firm at 801-506-0800 for a free consultation.

Spinal cord injuries are some of the most devastating and debilitating of all injuries that victims can suffer, mainly because of the long lasting and significant impact such an injury can impose on a victim; for most spinal cord injuries result in some form of paralysis.

A spinal cord injury usually occurs when the spine receives a sudden, strong blow. Depending on the severity and location of the blow, the vertebrae will either be crushed, compress together, completely fracture, or dislocate. This ultimately causes a disruption in the flow of signals from the spine to the brain, causing the victim to lose control over various parts of the body.

Thus, even though such a blow can be extremely painful and take some time to heal, the blow is not the end of the injury, since frequently a spinal cord injury results in some level of either temporary or permanent paralysis.

Whether your spinal cord injury results in permanent paralysis or not very often depends on what happens immediately after the injury. If a physician is able to appropriately treat the injury immediately after injury, chances are much higher that your injury’s effects can be mitigated, and therefore the paralysis can either be just temporary with an eventual total recovery, or else what would have been widespread paralysis can be contained within a smaller area.

So even if you have been in an accident and don’t feel any pain, it is very important to still undergo a thorough examination by a qualified physician so that any potential spinal cord injury can be spotted in time. Although serious spinal cord injuries will usually show telltale symptoms, minor ones will not, but those minor injuries can quickly become major injuries with major consequences if not treated in time. Effects of an untreated spinal cord injury include loss of bladder and bowel control, impaired skin sensation, lessened circulatory control, difficulty in breathing, decreased muscle tone, and impaired sexual health.

The importance of getting both adequate medical and legal help after a spinal cord injury is paramount to make sure that your recovery process is maximized in the months to follow. Experienced spinal cord injury attorneys like those with The Christensen Law Firm can help you recover damages due you to help cover your medical costs in the case of an accident that results in spinal cord injuries.

Spinal cord injuries in Utah can occur in many ways and have varying degrees of severity.  They can occur from anything including a person falling, falling objects striking the head or neck, sporting or recreation activities, or from vehicular accidents causing whiplash or any kind of head trauma.  The varying degrees of severity can be broken down into three categories: mild, intermediate, or severe.

Minor Spinal Injuries

Mild does not mean “unimportant” or “not worth seeking treatment.”  It is, in fact, the opposite.  The most common spinal cord injuries are considered “minor” and are often not treated. It is imperative, however, that every head injury resulting in dizziness, loss of consciousness or blacking out, severe bruising or bleeding, etc. be treated by a medical professional.  Examples of these types of injuries include: hits on the head with minor or small objects; slips and falls resulting in head-bumps; sporting accidents involving concussions; and other everyday accidents.  These types of accidents may result in short-term pain and discomfort.

Intermediate Spinal Injuries

“Intermediate” means significant long-term damage.  It will often be the case that chronic back or neck pain and suffering will be associated with the accident.  These types of accidents can happen in all the ways previously stated, but with a higher level of damage to the spine, thus creating significantly more symptoms.

Severe Spinal Injuries

Severe spinal injuries can be categorized as those injuries that result in either paraplegia or quadriplegia, or some other long-term debilitating effect as to render the victim incapacitated to a large degree.  These injuries affect the lives of not only the victim but all those on whom the victim relies to live a normal standard of living.

Get Help!

It is essential for any victim of an accident to seek medical attention.  Reluctance to do so may result in longer-term consequences that could be costly and painful.  Also, a personal injury attorney can help those who have suffered a spinal injury caused by the negligent actions of another.  Do not hesitate to get the help you need.