Orange County Spinal Cord Injury Attorney
Request Free ConsultationA spinal cord injury is one of the most frightening and debilitating injuries to the human body. If you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury, the attorneys of Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP offer our sympathies and condolences.
How An Orange County Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Can Help
A spinal cord injury interrupts the communication between the body and the brain. They can be devastating on a number of levels: physical, emotional, and financial, which is why the victims of spinal cord injuries may need the help of our skilled Orange County personal injury attorneys to file a claim for compensation for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
Most Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
According to the Mayo Clinic, these are the most common causes of spinal cord injuries:
- Motor vehicle accidents, including cars, trucks, and motorcycles (50%)
- Falls make up 22% of spinal cord injuries but are the leading cause of SCI in people over the age of 50
- Gunshots, knife wounds and other violent assaults (15%)
- Trampolines, diving, and impact sports, such as football (8%)
Who is Most Likely to Suffer a Spinal Cord Injury?
The 2015 study from the NSCISC shows the most common age to suffer a spinal cord injury is 19, followed closely by 18 and 20. The effects of a spinal cord injury at any age are devastating, but at such a young age means drastic life changes and long-term medical care. An Orange County spinal cord injury attorney can help you recover compensation to cover medical bills and other unexpected expenses.
Males are over 4 times more likely to suffer a spinal cord injury than females in all documented activities, besides horseback riding where more women (74) than men (73) were documented.
Data from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) at the University of Alabama current as of September 2020, provides a glimpse as to the correlation between how many women vs men have suffered SCI’s in the U.S. and how. Men by and large suffer more spinal cord injuries than women as a whole and more men have suffered SCI’s in every etiology except horseback riding. Here is a full look at the data:
Top 10 Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Males:
Top 10 Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Females:
Source: 2020 NSCISC Annual Statistical Report
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can result in life-changing consequences, often leading to partial or complete paralysis. These injuries are categorized based on the location of the damage to the spine and whether the injury is complete or incomplete. Understanding the effects of spinal cord injuries is crucial for both the victim and their caregivers to navigate treatment and long-term care.
- Cervical Spine Injury: Can cause quadriplegia (paralysis of arms, legs, and sometimes head, neck, and respiratory system).
- Thoracic Spine Injury: This leads to paraplegia (paralysis of the legs) and affects the chest and abdomen.
- Lumbar Spine Injury: Affects the hips and legs.
- Sacral Spine Injury: Impacts the bowel, bladder, and sexual function.
Types of Injuries:
- Incomplete Injury: Some movement or sensation may remain, with one side of the body possibly more functional than the other.
- Complete Injury: Full paralysis below the injury site, often leading to permanent loss of function.
Recovering From a Spinal Cord Injury In Orange County
Rehabilitation for spinal cord injuries focuses on muscle strength, independence, and mobility. Modern assistive equipment can give the patient more independence and sometimes even restore some bodily function. A team of doctors specializing in spinal cord injuries, a rehabilitation nurse, a social worker, a physical therapist, a recreational therapist, a nutritionist, a psychologist and an occupational therapist are some of the players on a spinal cord rehabilitation team.
How Much Will My Orange County Spinal Cord Injury Cost?
The University of Alabama National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center estimates that the lifetime cost of a spinal cord injury to a 25-year-old patient is somewhere between $700,000 and $3.1 million. No amount of money can cure the pain and suffering of a spinal cord injury, but compensation from a lawsuit can help a patient attain the best medical care and ease the burden on their family. Speak with an Orange County spinal cord injury lawyer to discuss your legal options and how you can obtain compensation to cover your damages.
Contact Our Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers in Orange County
If someone else’s criminally negligent act (such as selling a defective product or driving while intoxicated) is responsible for – either wholly or in part – your spinal cord injury, you may be able to recover compensation. Contact our Irvine spinal cord injury lawyer for assistance with your case.
Contact Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP today for your free Orange County spinal cord injury attorney consultation. Our expert team of attorneys is waiting for your call. We serve clients in Newport Beach, Irvine, Los Angeles, and throughout Southern California.