When an accident damages someone’s spinal cord, the central pathway that delivers signals to and from the brain becomes disrupted, often permanently. As such, spinal cord damage typically results in losing sensory and motor function below the injury site. If someone else’s actions cause this damage, you could pursue financial compensation to help afford your medical treatment and achieve a sense of justice.
Various legal and procedural obstacles could challenge your pursuit of civil recovery—especially if you try to move forward without a seasoned catastrophic injury attorney on your side. Fortunately, you have help available from a compassionate Orangeburg spinal cord injury lawyer who knows how to manage cases like yours. Do not hesitate to contact Whetstone, Perkins & Fulda for legal support.
What Determines the Severity of a Spinal Cord Injury?
The brain sends signals down the spinal cord telling other parts of the body how and where to move. The nerves within those body parts transmit signals back up the spinal cord to the brain with information about what they can feel and where they physically are.
Any injury resulting in the spinal cord being bruised, twisted, torn, or severed prevents the brain from communicating with parts of the body below the injury site. The closer a spinal cord injury is to someone’s neck, the more of their body may be affected by paralysis. Injuries to the lower part of the spine may cause a loss of bodily function in the legs and lower torso, called paraplegia. Injuries at the neck often cause paralysis to all four limbs, called quadriplegia.
Another key factor that determines the severity of a spinal cord injury is the “completeness” of the damage. In other words, whether the injury completely severs the spinal cord into two or more separate parts. As an Orangeburg attorney could explain, “complete” spinal cord injuries virtually always cause total and irreversible paralysis, whereas “incomplete” injuries may cause partial paralysis and offer some prospects for recovery with appropriate medical care.
Recovering Fairly Within Filing Deadlines
Anyone who suffers a spinal cord injury due to another person’s negligence has a right to demand civil compensation for the short and long-term losses related to their injury. Recoverable damages may include:
- Emergency medical bills and expected future care costs
- Injury-related expenses for things like assistive equipment, home and vehicle modifications, and in-home care
- Lost working capacity and earnings
- Physical discomfort and pain
- Lost enjoyment of life
- Emotional anguish and psychological distress
Importantly, South Carolina Code of Laws § 15-3-530 typically gives potential plaintiffs just three years after a personal injury occurs to take legal action. This deadline is the same even when an injury will have permanent consequences. Contacting a skilled Orangeburg lawyer sooner rather than later could be crucial to recovering fair compensation after sustaining a spinal cord injury.
Contact an Orangeburg Spinal Cord Injury Attorney for Assistance
Anyone who acts irresponsibly, causing someone else to suffer a catastrophic injury, should be held accountable. However, knowing someone else is to blame for your injury and proving liability in court or during private settlement negotiations are two very different things.
If you want to obtain fair financial recovery for your losses, you should make it a priority to seek help from a seasoned Orangeburg spinal cord injury lawyer. Call Whetstone Perkins & Fulda today to schedule a meeting.
