Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers

The physical consequences of a spinal cord injury depend on the type and location of the trauma. Generally speaking, injuries that occur higher in the spinal cord – within the cervical vertebra—are more debilitating, affecting sensation, mobility, and autonomic functions.

Paralysis and traumatic brain injuries are some of the most catastrophic consequences of SCI, but this trauma can affect many parts of the body in different ways, causing:

• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Uncontrolled muscle spasms
• Sexual dysfunction
• Numbness or tingling in the extremities
• Chronic pain
• Low blood pressure
• Difficulty breathing
• Increased risk of blood clots
• Respiratory infections like pneumonia
• Urinary tract infections
• Emotional issues including depression, anxiety, and PTSD

The personal injury lawyers at Rutter Mills understand the evidence needed to successfully present a spinal cord injury case and leverage their resources to demonstrate the lifelong impacts that victims and their loved ones must endure.

The associated costs of living with a spinal cord injury are astronomical, particularly for younger victims who are left paralyzed with neurological impairments.  Consider these statistics offered by the Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation on SCI costs:

• Expenses for paraplegics 1^st year: $550,381
• Expenses for tetraplegics (injury to C1-C4) 1^st year: $1,129,000
• Costs for tetraplegics (injury to C5-C8) 1^st year: $816,000
• Average lifetime costs for paraplegics (age of injury 25): $2,450,200
• Average lifetime costs for tetraplegics (age of injury 25): $5 million

These figures are focused on medical care, in-home modifications, and rehabilitation alone. They do not take into account a victim’s lost earnings, loss of benefits, and loss of productivity.  Spinal cord injuries often result in severe, lasting disability that impacts a victim’s ability to work. With less income and mounting medical expenses, legal action against negligent parties is often necessary for victims of spinal cord injuries.