What Causes Spinal Cord Injuries?

Our team of the best personal injury attorneys in Knoxville, TN, has seen some horrifying accidents over the years. One of the most common injuries that requires our assistance is a spinal cord injury. This type of injury can have a huge impact on your future, and it’s something that you need to seek immediate medical assistance for following an accident or incident. Let’s take a look at how spinal cord injuries often come to be and how you can avoid this ever occurring in the future.

What is a Spinal Cord Injury?

Your spinal cord is the group of nerves that connect the brain with various other parts of your body. This allows for good communication between these areas, but when the spinal cord is injured, it can lead to a loss of feeling and a lack of mobility below the point where the injury occurred. This type of injury is often seen as life-changing, and you might be left with a life-long disability or medical concerns. Each year in the US alone, it’s estimated that between 12,000 and 20,000 people experience a spinal cord injury. With over 230,000 people in the country living with these injuries, you won’t be alone when dealing with this. However, you can expect to need to fight to ensure you are protected for the rest of your life following this type of injury.

Spinal cord injuries happen when trauma occurs to the spinal column and puts pressure on your spinal cord. We break these types of injuries down into the categories of complete and incomplete spinal cord injuries. A complete spinal cord injury means you will lose all function below where the injury occurred. Incomplete spinal cord injuries will leave you with some level of movement or feeling, and often these victims have a chance of improving over time.

When you work with the best personal injury attorneys in Knoxville, TN, you’ll have a greater chance of receiving financial compensation to cover your medical costs and any future living expenses. If you are no longer able to look after your family or work, you may also be able to claim for this. While it’s difficult to think about the long-term impact of an injury straight away, it’s something that’s necessary in order to avoid issues in the future.

The Most Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

As the best personal injury attorneys in Knoxville, TN, we know that many different accidents can cause a spinal cord injury. These are just a few of the top reasons we see for spinal cord injuries on a regular basis in the state.

Car Accidents

The force that’s often applied to the body during a car accident often leaves victims with a spinal cord injury. This is probably the number one cause of accidents of this type in the state. To minimize the chance of being involved in a car accident, always follow safe driving practices and ensure you wear your seat belt. Should an accident occur, you’ll find you are more protected from the force that could otherwise be applied to your body.

Slips and Trips

In the workplace, slips and falls are a common type of injury we see far more often than we’d like to. If you are in charge of your workplace and its health and safety practices, make sure you keep an eye out for potential hazards. Business owners might find this type of accident to be something that puts their business in a terrible financial position, and it’s something that no one can afford to deal with.

Medical Malpractice

There’s no denying that operating on the back or neck is incredibly risky, but sadly medical malpractice is another reason we see for spinal cord injuries. If you are the victim of this, you might find that the company tries to pay you off for much less than you desire. By working with the best personal injury attorneys in Knoxville, TN, you’ll protect yourself for many years to come if you are unable to work again for a reason that wasn’t your fault at all.

What Can You Claim For After a Spinal Cord Injury?

As well as your medical bills, there’s a lot more you can try to claim for after a spinal cord injury. Your lost wages and future job opportunities need to be considered, as does your overall pain and suffering. The mental health risks of this type of injury also need to be considered, as your quality of life might not be the same again. We’ll also take into account the disability benefits you may need to improve your quality of life in the future.

Contact the best personal injury attorneys in Knoxville, TN, to discuss how we can help you following a spinal cord injury. We’ll be here to support you during this challenging time and fight for you to receive the compensation you deserve.