Home » Wichita Personal Injury Lawyers » Wichita Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys

There are many different injuries that can occur as the result of an accident. Some of the injuries are minor and temporarily disrupt the victim’s life. Others are more serious and can have a catastrophic impact. A spinal cord injury (SCI) is more likely to have a significant impact on your life. Often affecting your work, your social life, and your family, your life may never be the same. If you suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident, Joseph, Hollander & Craft’s Wichita spinal cord injury lawyers can help you recover the compensation you need to address all of these life adjustments.

Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms

Symptoms of a spinal cord injury may include:

• Loss of feeling in the arms, chest, or legs
• Loss of movement
• Spasms and grossly exaggerated reflexes
• Muscle weakness or complete loss of function
• Difficulty breathing that may require a ventilator
• Loss or disruption of sexual function
• Loss of bladder and bowel control
• Consistent burning pain due to nerve damage

If you experience any of these symptoms following a traumatic accident, consult a physician. Early action is important for your health and recovery as well as any potential claim you may have against the person or business responsible for your injury.

Complete and Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries

A complete spinal cord injury occurs when the area below the location of the injury can no longer communicate with the brain. As a result, the injury victim will completely lose motor and nerve function, feeling, sensation, and movement below the level of the spine where the injury occurred. This means the victim will experience total paralysis below the injured area, which is a condition called paraplegia. Complete spinal cord injuries are considered to be catastrophic injuries.

Sometimes a trauma may result in an incomplete spinal cord injury, where the nervous system’s signals can still be sent through the spinal cord to the brain. Victims of incomplete spinal cord injuries still retain some degree of movement and sensation after a spinal cord injury. The amount of movement and sensation is completely dependent on the severity of the damage. Incomplete spinal cord injuries fall into one of five categories:

• Anterior cord syndrome: This syndrome affects the anterior two-thirds of the spinal cord and typically results in paralysis and loss of pain and temperature sensation at and below the level of the injury.
• Central cord syndrome: A result of traumatic injury to the spinal cord in the cervical (neck) region, it is characterized by weakness predominantly in the arms.
• Posterior cord syndrome: This rare form of an incomplete spinal cord injury affects the back side of the spinal cord, which is responsible for perception of fine touch, vibration, sense of self movement, and proprioception.
• Brown-Sequard syndrome: This condition occurs when damage to the spinal cord results in muscle weakness or paralysis on one side of the body and a loss of sensation on the opposite side. The damage is found on only one side of the spinal cord in a specific area.
• Cauda equina syndrome: When a disc in the spine disc puts pressure on the nerve roots at the lower end of the spinal cord, sensation and movement is cut off. It can impact the ability to control the bladder and the bowel.

Another less severe but common type of spinal cord injury is a spinal contusion and nerve damage. This injury is usually temporary and has a quick recovery process. However, a spinal contusion can still be quite serious. It can be accompanied by swelling, bleeding, and pain and can lead to additional nerve damage and heart issues.

JHC’s Wichita spinal cord injury attorneys assist clients in pursuing legal action to address all types of spinal cord injuries that result from another person or company’s negligent or wrongful conduct.

Contact JHC for a Free Consultation

If you have been injured as a result of someone else’s fault—whether in a car accident, work accident, slip and fall, or other scenario—do not hesitate to get the legal help you need. Contact JHC’s Wichita personal injury lawyers today. An initial consultation with us is free, and we do not charge attorneys’ fees unless and until we win. Call our Wichita office or fill out our online form to speak about representation.

Common Questions About Spine Injuries

What damages can I claim in a spinal cord injury lawsuit?

JHC’s skilled personal injury lawyers can help you make a claim for damages as the result of a spinal cord injury. In personal injury cases, potential damages fall into one of two types of compensatory damages. The most straightforward have a set monetary value and are called economic damages. Economic damages can include the following:

• Medical expenses: This includes doctor bills, hospital bills, medication, surgery costs, rehabilitation services, physical therapy, medical devices, and modifications to a home or vehicle.
• Job related losses: Included in this category are time and wages lost from work as a result of an injury, including time spent getting medical care and treatment. Additionally, a claim can be made for missed promotions, the loss of earning capacity, and job retraining.

Non-economic damages are non-financial losses that would not have occurred if the injury had not happened. Examples of non-economic losses include:

• Pain and Suffering: Spinal cord injuries can result in a loss of enjoyment of life, loss of society, and loss of consortium. They can also cause lasting physical and emotional pain. These are all examples of pain and suffering that can be caused by a spinal cord injury.
• Wrongful Death: When a loved one dies as the result of a spinal cord injury, the family of the victim may be able make a claim based on the pain and suffering of the victim, as well as money to ease the financial burden left by their loved one’s absence.

What is a catastrophic injury?

An injury is deemed catastrophic when it has a severe, long-term impact on the injured person. Catastrophic injuries are usually expensive to address, but insurance companies want to pay out as little as possible. If you have experienced a catastrophic injury, such as a spinal cord injury or brain injury, you need qualified counsel to help you recover adequate compensation. JHC’s personal injury attorneys know just how to help.