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Spinal cord injuries can be devastating. Being hurt in this way is often a life-altering experience, and recovering fairly for past and future losses related to your injury can be complicated.
Having help from a seasoned Harrisburg spinal cord injury lawyer can be vital to achieving a positive result from this sort of civil claim. From establishing fault for the accident to demanding comprehensive restitution, the catastrophic injury team at Lowenthal & Abrams, Injury Attorneys is here for you.
What Makes Spinal Cord Trauma So Severe?
The spinal cord is essentially the very center of the central nervous system, as it is the main pathway along which signals from every nerve in the body travel to the brain and vice versa. Unfortunately, the spinal cord cannot heal from external damage on its own—or often even with cutting-edge medical treatment—the way that most other body parts can. Any disruption in communication between the brain and the rest of the nervous system can result in permanent loss of sensory and motor function below the injury site.
Generally, injuries higher up the spine are more severe than injuries to the lower parts of the spinal cord, since they cut more of the body off from the brain. Damage to the lumbar section of the spinal cord near the tailbone may only result in partial paraplegia in the lower limbs, whereas an injury in the cervical spine near the neck can cause total quadriplegia of all four limbs and the entire torso.
Another key factor that determines the severity of spinal cord trauma is the “completeness” of the injury—in other words, whether the injury involves the spinal cord being completely severed at the impact site, or just slightly torn or bruised. A Harrisburg spinal cord injury attorney can help demand fair restitution for every short-term and long-term effect of a spinal cord injury, regardless of its severity.
Taking Prompt Legal Action is Crucial
Both economic and non-economic forms of harm can and should be factored into a lawsuit or settlement demand built around spinal cord damage. Common recoverable damages include:
- Costs of past medical care, including emergency services and surgeries
- Expected costs of future medical care, including physical therapy, prescription medications, in-home assistance, and assistive equipment like wheelchairs
- Personal property damage or loss, plus injury-related expenses like home or vehicle modifications
- Lost work income and/or working capacity
- Physical pain and discomfort
- Psychological and emotional distress
- Lost enjoyment/quality of life
Even though spinal cord injuries often last for the injured person’s entire life, 42 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes §5524 still generally gives prospective plaintiffs just two years after initially getting hurt to begin the litigation process. A spinal cord accident lawyer in Harrisburg can play a key role in building a strong claim within applicable filing deadlines.
Talk to a Harrisburg Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Today
No one deserves to suffer any kind of injury solely because of someone else’s misconduct, and certainly not an injury to their spinal cord that has permanent and debilitating repercussions. If you have found yourself in this situation, you have the right to seek compensation for the harm you should never have sustained.
A compassionate Harrisburg spinal cord injury lawyer can help you make things right after an accident. Contact our office today to set up your free initial consultation.
