The human body requires all its parts in harmony to function at its best and lead a whole life. If an event of an exogenous nature, such as a lucky accident or a third party's negligence that resulted in an accident, caused you to sustain a spinal cord injury, your life as you knew it may have been permanently affected.
The Ward Law Group has seen hundreds of similar cases and other types of injuries that result from these unfortunate events in which negligence mixes with the inevitable. Victims come to our doors who feel that the event they have lived through has overtaken their lives and need guidance to get back on track and see life from a different perspective.
Hundreds of people have resorted to our personal injury attorneys' help since we appeared in the field. We started in a small office that harbored many dreams but with extensive bank debt. However, the inspiration to help our Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters and other vulnerable communities made us find our mission.
If you have been the victim of a serious spinal cord injury and you are having pain and suffering, contact us so that we can take your case to the legal success of fair compensation and negotiate with your insurance company.
Spinal Cord Injuries on Long Island
Spinal cord injuries can strike anyone at any time and are frequently caused by events such as car accidents. Whichever kind of spinal cord injury occurs, the effects could result in permanent impairments or paralysis. The nerves that carry signals from the brain to other body areas may also be impacted by damage to the spinal cord. You might be able to file a lawsuit to recover damages if the actions of another person caused your spinal cord injury.
There are two main types of spinal cord injuries: complete and incomplete. A total spinal cord injury causes irreversible harm and causes numbness below the site of the injury. Conversely, incomplete spinal cord injuries result in partial damage, meaning that spinal cord injury victims can still feel and function to some extent.
Serious spinal cord injury cases frequently result in paralysis, such as paraplegia, which affects the lower extremities, or tetraplegia, which involves the arms, legs, hands, feet, and trunk.
The locations of the injuries are the spinal column's sacral, lumbar, thoracic, and cervical regions, which correspond to the levels of spinal cord injuries.
Damage to the thoracic or cervical regions can result in partial or total paralysis as well as loss of function.
Spinal cord injuries can cause paralysis, excruciating pain, numbness, altered sensation, loss of bladder or bowel control, difficulty breathing, and loss of movement. You must immediately get emergency medical care at the local hospital's emergency department if you or a loved one exhibits any of these symptoms.
Long Island Spinal Cord Injury Statistics
The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center estimates that 17,000 Americans experience spinal cord injuries annually.
These injuries can happen to people in New York and other places for various reasons, including car crashes, construction site mishaps, scaffolds or ladders, workplace accidents, slips and falls, and sports-related incidents.
Having a spinal cord injury is frightening, regardless of the cause, and many people are unaware of what it entails or what to anticipate both in the short term after the injury and in the long run.
Spinal cord injuries are prevalent in the United States, where 255,702 people fearfully live with this condition. A study found that 12,000 new cases of spinal cord injury occur in the US each year.
There has been a rise in the number of elderly individuals with spinal cord injuries. 11.5 percent of spinal cord injuries occur in adults over 60, according to statistics. Following a spinal cord injury, medical bills and other costs can be stressful both financially and mentally. The first year could be anywhere from $100,000 to $400,000.
Spinal cord injuries have a wide range of causes. According to statistics, automobile accidents account for 42% of spinal injuries, falls for 27.1, violence for 15.3%, sports accidents for 7.4%, and unknown causes for 8.1%.
Immediate Steps After a Spinal Cord Injury
Our years of experience confirm that it is better not to improvise when encountering serious injuries. Our first recommendation will be to work on prevention constantly. However, when the event is already consummated and you can no longer prevent it from happening, you must decide how to act in such a situation.
The best thing to do is not to make irrational decisions, no matter how difficult it may seem. It would be best if you waited patiently for the arrival of specialized paramedics to help you and follow some of the following recommendations:
- Call Emergency Services: Dial 911 or your local emergency number immediately to ensure prompt medical assistance.
- Avoid Movement: Encourage the injured person to remain still to prevent further damage to the spinal cord.
- Provide Comfort and Reassurance: Offer emotional support to the individual to help manage stress and anxiety during the emergency.
- Stabilize the Head and Neck: Carefully support the head and neck using materials like towels or clothing to minimize movement.
- Do Not Attempt to Move the Person: Do not move the injured person unless there is an immediate threat to their safety.
- Wait for Professional Medical Assistance: Allow trained medical professionals to handle the transportation and movement of the injured person.
- Monitor Breathing and Circulation: Monitor the person's breathing and circulation closely and perform CPR if necessary.
- Control Bleeding if Present: Address any visible bleeding with a clean cloth or bandage while avoiding unnecessary movement.
- Keep the Person Warm: Cover the individual with a blanket or clothing to maintain body temperature.
- Provide Information to Emergency Responders: Share details about the incident, symptoms, and any relevant medical history with emergency responders.
- Document the Scene: If possible, take note of the surroundings, conditions, and any contributing factors to assist medical professionals later.
- Inform Medical Personnel of Potential Spinal Cord Injury: Communicate the suspicion of a spinal cord injury to the responding medical team.
- Follow Medical Advice: Adhere to the instructions and recommendations provided by healthcare professionals for the best possible outcome.
- Contact Family and Loved Ones: Inform family members or designated contacts about the situation, providing updates as necessary.
- Seek Legal Counsel: Consider consulting with a spinal cord injury lawyer to understand potential legal avenues and rights related to the incident. Depending on your case, a spinal cord injury claim will probably be required.
As you can see, what matters most to us is that you are sure that your integrity is guaranteed. Do not make hasty decisions that could affect you for a long time. Check everything around you, measure the danger, and, based on that, take the next step.
Rehabilitation and Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries
Rehabilitation can be a long road. However, the difference will be in your attitude in the face of the complicated situation that life throws at you. That difference has allowed us to witness cases of recovery where a hasty diagnosis had deemed them unable to get better.
The first step is mental as well as spiritual. If you fully recover after a complicated injury, there will always be a spiritual force in your recovery. It is not enough to cling to physical terms to get through such a situation. Emotional and spiritual strength is also necessary. This way, you can hold on to something more ethereal than the human body.
Faith and the desire to continue in the process make everything much more bearable and gradually fill you with optimism. The victims' environment is also essential. It is necessary to build a climate that sees opportunities where others see negatives. One must see things as they are and not under idealized postures. We know it will not be easy, but we trust in their ability to recover.
From the legal side, we will contribute to the justice system to repair the bad times they have put him through. And so, things will return to their place piece by piece, although he will return from this experience with a new focus and much more renewed. It is the paradox of challenging experiences that if we deal with them wisely, we can open our minds and find a whole new perspective that we did not know before and that limited our vision of things.
Some of the most common therapies for this type of process are the following:
- Immediate Medical Intervention: Seek immediate medical attention for a comprehensive evaluation of the spinal cord injury or any other catastrophic injury. Early intervention is crucial to assess the severity and initiate the appropriate treatment plan.
- Surgery for Stabilization: Surgical procedures, such as spinal fusion or decompression surgery, may be necessary to stabilize the spine and address any immediate complications, preventing further damage to the spinal cord.
- Physical Therapy: Use personalized physical therapy programs to improve mobility, strength, and overall function. Therapists work closely with individuals to create targeted exercises that address specific needs and challenges.
- Occupational Therapy: Participate in occupational therapy sessions focused on daily tasks and activities. This specialized therapy aims to enhance independence by developing strategies and adaptations for daily activities.
- Assistive Devices: Explore cutting-edge assistive technologies and devices, such as exoskeletons, robotic aids, and smart mobility solutions, tailored to individual needs. These tools aid in mobility, communication, and other aspects of daily life.
- Electrical Stimulation: Embrace techniques like functional electrical stimulation (FES), utilizing electrical impulses to activate muscles. This approach can improve muscle strength, circulation, and overall function.
- Robot-Assisted Therapy: Incorporate robotic devices into rehabilitation exercises, providing targeted support and feedback. These devices assist individuals in performing specific movements, promoting motor recovery and independence.
- Stem Cell Therapy: Explore the promising field of stem cell therapy, where the application of stem cells aims to stimulate tissue regeneration, and repair damaged spinal cord cells, potentially leading to functional recovery.
- Virtual Reality (VR) Rehabilitation: Engage in virtual reality simulations for rehabilitation exercises. VR provides an immersive and motivating environment, enhancing therapy adherence and offering new possibilities for motor skill improvement.
- Aquatic Therapy: Experience water-based therapy to reduce joint impact while improving strength, flexibility, and coordination. Water's buoyancy facilitates movement and can be especially beneficial in the early stages of rehabilitation.
- Neurostimulation: Explore advancements in neuromodulation techniques, including spinal cord stimulation, to modulate neural activity. These approaches aim to alleviate pain, enhance function, and promote neuroplasticity.
- Exoskeleton Technology: Utilize innovative exoskeleton devices to assist with walking and mobility. These wearable robotic systems provide external support, enabling individuals with spinal cord injuries to stand and move more independently.
- Biofeedback Training: Engage in biofeedback training, a therapeutic approach that uses real-time monitoring of physiological functions. This method enhances awareness and control of bodily responses, contributing to overall rehabilitation progress.
- Mind-Body Therapies: Incorporate mind-body practices like yoga and mindfulness into the rehabilitation plan. These approaches address mental and emotional well-being, promoting relaxation, stress reduction, and overall resilience.
- Neuroplasticity-Based Interventions: Explore interventions to leverage the brain's neuroplasticity, encouraging adaptive changes in neural pathways. These strategies optimize recovery outcomes by promoting neural reorganization and functional improvement.
Contact a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney on Long Island
Contact The Ward Law Group if you identify with the type of case we have described or if you feel that your case could also be represented by our firm to help you obtain fair compensation that lightens the burden of dealing with irresponsibility and negligence of third parties.
From our offices, our entire team wishes victims of this type of accident a speedy recovery. We want them to recover their will to live and the smile that characterizes them.
Contact us and schedule a free consultation of your case! Call us at 855-DOLOR-55!