Even though the vertebrae of the spine offer some degree of protection to the bundle of nerves that comprises the spinal cord, this highly sensitive area of the body may still sustain life-altering damage in a traumatic accident. If any external impact leads to the spinal cord being bruised, torn, or worst of all severed completely, the physical, financial, and personal repercussions of that single incident will often last for the rest of the injured person’s life.
Recovering comprehensive compensation for spinal cord damage is generally much easier with guidance from a Blair County catastrophic injury attorney who is familiar with cases of this nature. With a seasoned Blair County spinal cord injury lawyer on your side, you could stand a better chance not only of proving someone else at fault for your injuries, but also obtaining fair compensation for both past and future consequences of the calamitous harm you suffered.
The spinal cord essentially acts as the main thoroughfare for the body’s central nervous system, transmitting signals from the brain to every other part of the body, and vice versa. Any physical damage done to the spinal cord invariably severs some part of that communication network, and the more severe the damage is, the more comprehensive and irreversible the ensuing loss of bodily function may be.
Although different parts of the nervous system branch out from different parts of the spinal cord, trauma to the spinal cord frequently cause losses of function everywhere below the point of impact. For example, damage to the lower part of the spine may cause paraplegia, or paralysis in only the lower limbs and groin.
Another key factor in the severity of a spinal cord injury is whether the spinal cord is completely severed at the point of impact or just partially torn or damaged. “Incomplete” injuries may not cause a total loss of function and may even give people some prospects for long-term recovery, whereas “complete” spinal cord injuries are typically permanent.
Importantly, the fact that spinal cord injuries very often have lifelong repercussions does not mean that individuals filing suit over spinal cord trauma are given an easier standard of proof to meet in court. No matter how minor or severe a personal injury is, an injured party seeking civil compensation still must prove through a preponderance of all evidence that reckless, careless, or intentional misconduct by the named defendant(s) was the direct and primary cause of his or her injuries.
In addition, it is also crucial for plaintiffs to address any arguments that they were at fault for causing the injuries. If a court does find a plaintiff partly to blame for an accident, that court may reduce that plaintiff’s final damage award by his or her percentage of total fault or even bar him or her from recovery altogether, in accordance with 42 P.S. §7102. Support from a dedicated lawyer can be essential to proving defendant plaint while arguing against allegations of comparative negligence following a spinal cord injury in Blair County.
Any accident that results in damage to the neck or spine can have immense consequences for the person who suffered that injury. Fortunately, if you can show that your spine trauma only occurred because someone else acted irresponsibly, you might have grounds to hold that reckless or careless individual responsible for every form of harm you will experience from your injury.
A capable Blair County spinal cord injury lawyer could discuss potential recovery options for your unique circumstances in detail during a confidential consultation. Schedule yours by calling Marcus & Mack today.
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