Spinal cord injuries can happen under a wide range of circumstances, and the consequences of these injuries can be life-altering. If you or a loved one are living with spinal cord damage, it could pose challenges in every aspect of your life.
When someone else’s negligence contributed to your injuries, a dedicated catastrophic injury attorney could hold them accountable. From getting assistance with daily tasks to finding employment, this type of injury can require substantial changes to help you move forward. A Kingstree spinal cord injury lawyer could help you fight for the compensation you need and deserve after your accident.
The Consequences of Spinal Cord Damage Can Be Permanent
Injuries such as broken bones and lacerations generally heal over time. That is not always the case with spinal cord damage. The nerves within the spine are not capable of healing on their own in the same way much of the human body can. Unfortunately, this means spinal cord injuries often lead to permanent consequences.
The part of the spine that sustains damage can affect the severity of someone’s injuries. When the spinal cord is impinged or severed, the areas of the body below that point can no longer communicate with the brain and become paralyzed. Spinal cord damage just above the waist could result in paralysis from the waist down. However, damage to the neck could result in paralysis of the entire body.
Not all cases of spinal damage will result in permanent health consequences. In some situations, medical care can relieve the symptoms related to these injuries. A capable Kingstree attorney could help pursue compensation for the cost of any treatment related to a spinal cord injury.
Determining Liability for a Spinal Cord Injury
Not every spinal injury is grounds for a lawsuit. For an injured person to recover compensation, they must demonstrate that their spinal cord injury resulted from an act of negligence. A Kingstree spinal cord injury attorney could help establish the following elements of negligence in a civil claim.
Duty
The first step to proving liability in court involves identifying a duty of care. For a civil suit to be liable, someone must have owed the injured party a duty of care. This duty can vary depending on the circumstances. For example, a driver could owe their passenger a duty to drive safely, or a property owner might have a duty to warn visitors of a dangerous hazard.
Breach
The second element of negligence is proving someone breached this duty of care. A breach can occur in countless ways depending on the duty itself. For example, a motorist breaches their duty of care to a passenger if they drive under the influence of alcohol.
Causation
A plaintiff must also demonstrate that there is a link between their spinal cord injury and the defendant’s breach of a standard duty. It is only possible to recover damages that are directly linked to a defendant’s careless or reckless actions.
Damages
The final element of negligence is establishing compensable damages. Even if all other elements are present in an accident, a person may only recover compensation if they can prove they suffered damages because of their injuries. This is rarely an issue in spinal cord injury cases, given their severity. Examples of recoverable damages include pain and suffering and medical costs.
Talk to an Experienced Kingstree Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Today
Spinal injuries are often life-changing events. No one should have to give up their quality of life because of another person’s actions.
An injury lawsuit could provide you with a measure of justice and the financial resources you need to move forward after ab accident. Reach out to a Kingstree spinal cord injury lawyer today to learn more.
