Missouri Attorneys Helping Survivors of Spinal Cord Injuries
The doctors explained the injury, but in their language, not yours — what does it all mean? You could be in the hospital and rehab facility for months — how will your medical bills get paid? You were in an accident and have been told you cannot walk anymore — what does that mean for your future?
People coping with a sudden, severe injury have many questions and concerns. At the Kansas City-based law firm of Dollar, Burns & Becker, L.C., our attorneys are dedicated to helping clients get the answers they need. We help survivors of spinal cord injuries pursue full and fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, and future expenses related to the injury. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case.
What You Need to Know About Your Spinal Cord Injury
- The spinal cord is the column of nerves running along your back that connects signals from your brain to nerves throughout your body. Even minimal trauma to the spinal cord can disrupt the flow of communication between the brain and nerves throughout the body. Although it is protected by a column of bones — vertebrae — the spinal cord is still vulnerable.
- Damage to your spinal cord can occur when the force of an accident causes one of the vertebra in your spinal column to crush (pinching or compressing the spinal cord), break (leaving the spinal cord vulnerable to further blows from the accident), or completely move (severing the spinal cord completely. Damage to your spinal cord can also occur when a slipped disc/herniated disc/ruptured disc impacts the spinal cord, which means that the disc between vertebrae moves abruptly and crushes or pinches the spinal cord.
- Paralysis can result if the spinal cord is subjected to serious trauma in a car accident, industrial accident, or surgical procedure. Depending on where your spinal cord was damaged, paraplegia or quadriplegia can result. Damage to the spinal cord in your upper neck can result in quadriplegia, leaving you with limited feeling and mobility in your arms, legs, torso, etc. Damage to your spinal cord in your mid- to lower back can result in paraplegia, leaving you with limited feeling and mobility in your lower torso, legs, feet, etc.
· How a spinal cord injury impacts your life: No two spinal cord injuries are alike, so we cannot predict exactly what your future holds. Most people who suffer from spinal cord injuries will require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitative therapy — spanning months and even years.
A wheelchair and other adaptive equipment may be necessary. It will be necessary to re-learn how to do many things in life that once were taken for granted, such as brushing your teeth and dressing. You may need to accept the fact that you will need help with these things. Special accommodations will be necessary for your home and vehicle. Your career path may be completely changed.
At Dollar, Burns & Becker, we know this is a lot to take in. You probably still need time for the facts about your injury to sink in. However, it is important to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer right away.
As you are likely starting to learn, your expenses related to your spinal cord injury are just starting to accumulate and will continue for the rest of your life. If someone's negligence caused the accident that resulted in your spinal cord injury, you have the right to seek full and fair compensation, which will be necessary to minimize the financial burdens associated with your spinal cord injury now and in the future.
Contact the attorneys of Dollar, Burns & Becker to discuss how our attorneys can help. Your initial consultation is free.
