An injury to the spinal cord that causes changes in movement, sensation, strength, or other neurological functions qualifies as a spinal cord injury. The effects may be temporary or permanent and can range from partial impairment to complete loss of motor and sensory function below the level of injury.
A spinal cord injury differs from a general back or neck injury because it involves the spinal cord itself, not just the muscles, discs, ligaments, vertebrae, or surrounding nerves. Medical testing is usually needed to determine whether the spinal cord has been damaged.
If an accident caused your condition, a West Hollywood spinal cord injury lawyer can help you pursue a personal injury claim.
What is a Spinal Cord Injury?
The spinal cord is a bundle of nerve tissue that carries signals between the brain and the rest of the body. When trauma damages the spinal cord, those signals may be disrupted, affecting movement, sensation, reflexes, breathing, and bladder or bowel function.
The effects depend heavily on where the injury occurs and how much of the cord is damaged. Injuries higher on the spinal cord can affect more areas of the body than injuries at lower levels.
Not every spinal injury involves damage to the cord. A person may have a fractured vertebra, herniated disc, or severe back injury without sustaining a spinal cord injury.
What Types of Injuries Qualify as Spinal Cord Injuries?
A condition may qualify as a spinal cord injury when medical evidence shows damage to the spinal cord and resulting neurological impairment. Spinal cord injuries are commonly classified as complete or incomplete.
Complete Spinal Cord Injury
A complete spinal cord injury generally means there is no sensory or motor function below the neurological level of the injury, including the lowest sacral segments.
A complete injury can cause paralysis below the level of injury. The extent of paralysis depends on where along the spinal cord the damage occurred.
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
An incomplete spinal cord injury means some sensory or motor function remains below the injury level.
The abilities retained can vary widely. One person may preserve sensation but have little movement, while another may retain substantial movement with weakness or other limitations.
Does a Herniated Disc Count as a Spinal Cord Injury?
Not necessarily. A herniated disc is an injury or condition involving one of the discs between the vertebrae. It can cause pain, weakness, numbness, or nerve symptoms without directly damaging the spinal cord.
In some cases, however, a severely herniated disc can compress the spinal cord and cause neurological impairment. Whether that condition constitutes a spinal cord injury depends on the actual damage and the medical findings.
The same distinction applies to fractures and other spine injuries. A fractured vertebra may occur without damaging the spinal cord, whereas another fracture may compress or injure the cord, causing loss of function.
How Do Doctors Determine What Counts as a Spinal Cord Injury?
Doctors evaluate possible spinal cord damage through a combination of physical examinations, neurological testing, imaging, and continued observation.
A medical evaluation may include:
- Testing muscle strength.
- Checking sensation and reflexes.
- Evaluating the ability to move the arms or legs.
- Assessing bladder, bowel, or respiratory function.
- X-rays to identify fractures or other bone injuries.
- CT scans to examine bones, discs, and other structures.
- MRI scans to evaluate the spinal cord and identify compression, bleeding, herniated discs, or other abnormalities.
Doctors may also perform additional neurological examinations after swelling begins to decrease. These evaluations can help establish the level and completeness of the injury.
What Accidents Commonly Cause Spinal Cord Injuries?
Traumatic spinal cord injuries can result from a sudden impact, fracture, dislocation, compression, or penetrating injury involving the spine.
Common causes include:
- Car accidents.
- Motorcycle crashes.
- Truck collisions.
- Pedestrian accidents.
- Falls.
- Diving accidents.
- Sports and recreational injuries.
- Acts of violence.
- Workplace incidents.
Motor vehicle crashes and falls account for a substantial share of traumatic spinal cord injuries in the United States. The cause of the injury can also become relevant in a personal injury claim when another person’s or company’s negligence contributed to the incident.
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Why Does a Spinal Cord Injury Diagnosis Affect an Injury Claim?
A spinal cord injury can create medical and financial needs that continue well beyond the initial hospitalization. The extent of those needs depends on the level of injury, retained function, prognosis, and ability to return to work and normal activities.
Potential losses may include:
- Emergency and hospital care.
- Surgery.
- Inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation.
- Physical and occupational therapy.
- Medications and medical equipment.
- Mobility devices.
- Home or vehicle modifications.
- In-home assistance or long-term care.
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity.
- Physical pain and emotional distress.
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
Future losses can represent a substantial part of a spinal cord injury claim. Medical records, rehabilitation plans, employment information, and other evidence may help establish what care and assistance you are expected to need.
How Do You Prove a Spinal Cord Injury Claim?
Proving a claim generally requires evidence connecting the accident to the spinal cord damage and documenting the resulting losses.
Evidence may include:
- Emergency room and hospital records.
- MRI, CT, and other imaging results.
- Neurological examinations.
- Records from surgeons and rehabilitation providers.
- Physical and occupational therapy records.
- Documentation of mobility or functional limitations.
- Employment and wage records.
- Evidence establishing how the accident occurred.
Medical documentation can be particularly significant because symptoms such as pain, weakness, or numbness can have several possible causes. Records showing the diagnosis, neurological findings, and progression of symptoms can help establish the relationship between the accident and the spinal cord damage.
What Should You Do If You Suspect a Spinal Cord Injury?
Seek emergency medical care after an accident if you experience weakness, numbness, loss of movement, difficulty walking, breathing problems, or loss of bladder or bowel control. Do not attempt unnecessary movement if a neck or spinal injury is suspected.
After receiving care, keep copies of your medical records and follow your treatment recommendations. You can also document changes in mobility, independence, work, and daily activities as your recovery continues.
If another person or company may have caused the accident, preserving accident evidence can also help establish how the injury occurred and who may be legally responsible.
Talk to Omega Law Group About a Spinal Cord Injury Claim
If you suffered spinal cord damage because of an accident, Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys can review what happened and explain your options under California law.
Our firm has more than 20 experienced attorneys serving personal injury clients. We provide individualized attention and handle personal injury claims on a contingency-fee basis. We are also available 24/7 to receive calls from prospective clients and offer assistance in Spanish.
Contact us for a free consultation to discuss whether your injury qualifies as a spinal cord injury and the compensation you may be able to pursue.
