While any physical harm caused by someone else’s misconduct can have wide-reaching negative effects in both your professional and personal life, accidental damage to the spinal cord is all too often life-altering. Because this essential component of the central nervous system cannot heal by itself from physical trauma the way most other body parts can, injuries of this nature are often permanent and can lead to debilitating loss of motor and sensory function.
Recovering fair compensation for an injury this uniquely severe can be difficult without guidance from a seasoned Houston spinal cord injury lawyer at Roberts Markland LLP. By hiring a knowledgeable catastrophic injury attorney who has years of experience handling similar case successfully, you could more effectively defend your rights and the compensation you deserve through a private settlement demand or civil lawsuit.
Unfortunately, injuries to the spinal cord can occur under just about any circumstances that might cause injuries to other areas of the body. That said, accidents that lead to damage of this nature particularly often include:
Importantly, though, not every accident that leads to someone sustaining a paralyzing spinal cord injury can necessarily serve as valid grounds for civil litigation. For financial recovery to be possible, the injured person must have sufficient evidence to prove that another person’s reckless or careless actions were in violation of a duty to act responsibly.
Someone who meets all the criteria listed above is legally “negligent,” and negligence in a civil context is what generally allows someone to be held financially responsible for harm they caused. A Houston spinal cord injury attorney could explain the legal specifics of cases like this in more detail during a private consultation.
Two primary factors play into determining how severe a spinal cord injury is and the effects it will likely have on the injured person’s life moving forward: the location of the injury, and its “completeness.” First, injuries higher up the spine and closer to the neck are generally more harmful than lower injuries, since the former cuts off more of the nervous system from sending and receiving brain signals. Second, a “complete” spinal cord injury that involves the spinal cord being totally severed is almost always permanent and results in the total loss of function below the injury site, whereas an “incomplete” spinal cord injury may give an injured person some prospects of long-term recovery.
Generally, the more severe a spinal cord injury is the greater amount of compensation an ensuing lawsuit or settlement demand would need to demand to account for losses like:
Once again, a spinal cord injury lawyer in Houston could go into more detail during an initial meeting about what losses a particular person might be eligible to recover for following a traumatic event.
Spinal cord trauma is one of the most devastating outcomes an accident can have, primarily because of how often the damage done is completely irreversible. Even in dire situations like this, though, demanding fair financial restitution from the person responsible for harming you could be vital to maximizing your long-term prospects and overall quality of life.
A capable Houston spinal cord injury lawyer could be the ally you need to proactively pursue your preferred case outcome. Call Roberts Markland LLP today to learn more.
