Life is never the same for a person who sustains a spinal cord injury in a serious accident. Sudden trauma to the neck or back can cause partial or total loss of movement and feeling in the injured area, which may lead to devastating and disabling conditions such as paralysis, paraplegia, quadriplegia/tetraplegia and hemiplegia. These catastrophic conditions generally have a dramatic effect on the injured person’s independence and quality of life for years to come.
The lifetime cost of medical care for people with spinal cord injuries can be astronomical – as high as $4 million for someone with the most severe injuries, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. If someone else’s recklessness caused your spinal cord injury, you need to contact a spinal cord injury lawyer who can help you obtain compensation as you prepare for the future.
Call the New Orleans law firm of Braud & Gallagher at 866-254-4979 or use our online contact form for a free consultation.
The skilled legal team at Braud & Gallagher is committed to protecting the rights of victims who have sustained catastrophic spinal cord injuries in Louisiana accidents. Our attorneys combine years of legal expertise with innovative technology and aggressive trial techniques so that clients receive the maximum amount of compensation in the shortest amount of time possible.
We have a philosophy at Braud & Gallagher: Our job is not done until you have won.
Braud & Gallagher represents motorcycle accident victims in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Mandeville, Jefferson Parish, St. Charles Parish, Lafourche Parish, Terrebonne Parish, St. John the Baptist and throughout Louisiana.
A Winning History for Our New Orleans Accident Lawyers
Braud & Gallagher has a proven track record of success in obtaining top-dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients.
About Louisiana Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that is connected to the brain and sends motor and sensory signals throughout the body. A spinal cord injury occurs when a sudden blow fractures or dislocates the bones, called vertebrae, of the spine. The resulting damage can temporarily or permanently interrupt the nerve signals coming from the spinal cord, causing complete or incomplete paralysis, paraplegia, quadriplegia/tetraplegia and hemiplegia.
Recent NSCISC data show that as many as 316,000 Americans are currently living with some sort of spinal cord injury. Another 12,000 people join those ranks each year. Nearly half of all spinal cord injuries are caused by motor vehicle accidents, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The next most common cause of spinal cord injuries is falls, followed by acts of violence and sports injuries.
The outcome of a spinal cord injury is determined by two principal factors: where the injury is located, and whether the injury is complete or incomplete.
- Incomplete: Some level of sensory and motor function below the level of the injury remains intact.
- Complete: Refers to a total loss of feeling and movement below the level of the injury.
The location of the injury is important because it determines how much of the injured person’s body may be impaired as a result of the accident. The spine extends from the neck to the tailbone. The higher an injury occurs in the spine, the more parts of the body may be paralyzed.
Spinal cord injuries can result in the following conditions:
- Quadriplegia/tetraplegia: Occurs when the cervical (or neck) region of the spinal cord is damaged. Both the arms and legs are paralyzed, as well as the trunk of the body.
- Paraplegia: Involves paralysis of the lower body, including both legs.
- Hemiplegia: Refers to paralysis on just one side of the body.
Complications of Spinal Cord Injuries
Unfortunately, many people with spinal cord injuries suffer from serious secondary health problems as a result of their injuries. Involuntary functions such as breathing, urinary control and bowel function may be lost depending on the location of the injury. Other potentially fatal complications can include:
- Pneumonia;
- Trouble regulating body temperature;
- Blood pressure problems;
- Autonomic dysreflexia;
- Pressure sores
- Infections;
- Sexual dysfunction;
- Spasms;
- Blood clots;
- Chronic pain;
- Depression.
The economic impact of spinal cord injuries can be devastating for survivors and their families. Most survivors must spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on procedures and adaptive equipment just to remain medically stable. People with spinal cord injuries may also require long-term nursing services or residential care in the years following their accidents, all of which take a financial and emotional toll.
If someone else’s recklessness caused your spinal cord injury, you have the legal right to pursue compensation for what you’ve lost as a result of their negligence. The money you receive may not be able to restore your life to what it once was, but it can provide a measure of security for you and your loved ones as you rebuild your life.
Contact Our New Orleans Spine Injury Lawyers Today
If you or a family member suffers from paralysis, quadriplegia, paraplegia or hemiplegia following a Louisiana accident, call Braud & Gallagher at 866-254-4979 or use our online contact form for a no-cost consultation. Our Louisiana accident attorneys represent injury clients in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Mandeville, Jefferson Parish, St. Charles Parish, Lafourche Parish, Terrebonne Parish, St. John the Baptist Parish and throughout Louisiana.
Remember, our job is not done until you have won.
