Riverside Spinal Cord Attorneys

You Deserve Justice – We Know How to Fight for It

Spinal cord injuries have an overwhelming potential to cause life-altering complications and enormous physical, emotional, and financial losses. Under California law, if injury-related losses resulted from another’s negligence or wrongdoing, it may be possible for victims to seek a financial recovery of their damages by pursuing a personal injury claim.

However, survivors who seek compensation face big challenges – especially when they have high-value claims like spinal cord injury lawsuits. They must navigate complex legal processes, bear the burden of proof, and contend with powerful insurance companies that care more about profits than people.

Fortunately, help is available

At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, our Riverside spinal cord injury lawyers have a proven track record helping seriously injured victims recover millions of dollars in compensation. This includes a recent $9 million result for a man who suffered a spinal cord injury due to an inadequately guarded center median “drop-off” area that caused a wreck. If you have questions about a potential case, we are here to help. Whether you or your loved one suffered a spine injury in a motor vehicle collision, workplace accident, or premises accident, we have the resources and experience to guide and support you through the claim process.

Request a FREE review of your case by calling (866) 634-4525 or contacting us online.

Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries can result from many different types of accidents, and each brings its own unique set of challenges and considerations. Our attorneys at Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP are equipped with the knowledge and resources to investigate any spinal cord injury case, regardless of how the injury occurred. With decades of combined experience handling complex and catastrophic injury cases, we know how to navigate these intricate claims, uncover useful evidence of liability, and uphold our clients’ rights as injured plaintiffs.

Common causes of spinal cord injuries include:

• Car accidents: Car crashes are one of the leading causes of spinal cord injuries. High-speed collisions can cause severe damage to the spinal cord due to the immense force involved.
• Truck accidents: Accidents involving large commercial trucks can be particularly devastating due to their size and weight. Rear-end collisions can lead to significant spinal cord injuries even in low-speed impacts.
• Motorcycle accidents: Without the protection of a vehicle frame, motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to severe injuries in a wreck. Among the more common catastrophic injuries suffered by motorcyclists are spinal cord injuries that result when riders are thrown from their motorcycles and onto pavement.
• Workplace accidents: Certain occupations, such as construction or industrial work, carry a heightened risk of spinal cord injuries due to falls from heights, heavy machinery accidents, and other work-related hazards.
• Slip and fall accidents: Falls can result in serious spinal cord injuries. If the fall happened due to slippery surfaces, uneven flooring, or poor lighting, it could be grounds for an injury claim against the property owner.

Permanent Harm Caused by Spinal Cord Damage

Spinal cord injuries are permanent in the majority of cases, often causing life-altering changes and limitations for the survivor. The nerves that make up the spinal cord, which serve as the communication highway between the brain and the rest of the body, are generally slow to heal and may be unable to recover at all from severe trauma. This can result in a wide range of complications and disabilities.

The types of disabilities and complications that can be caused by a spinal cord injury include:

• Paralysis
• Organ function loss
• Loss of sexual function
• Loss of bladder and bowel control
• Speech impediments
• Trouble swallowing food
• Respiratory difficulties
• Increased risk of blood clots
• Increased risk of heart attack
• Bone density reduction
• Mood and behavior changes

Each of these potential outcomes underscores the severity of a spinal cord injury and the profound impact they can have on the victim’s quality of life. If you’ve been diagnosed with spinal cord damage and are showing symptoms of permanent harm, call (866) 634-4525 right away to talk with our Riverside spinal cord injury attorneys about your legal rights and options.

Different Types of Paralysis

Paralysis resulting from spinal cord damage can present in various forms, ranging from temporary to permanent and from partial to total. Victims with temporary paralysis may be able to recover over time with proper treatment and rehabilitation. Permanent paralysis, however, signifies irreversible damage to the nerves, leading to a lifelong condition. Partial paralysis refers to the condition where an individual has some degree of control over the muscles, while total paralysis means there is no control or movement possible in the affected areas. The extent and type of paralysis largely depend on the severity and location of the spinal cord injury.

The five common types of paralysis caused by spinal cord damage include:

• Quadriplegia: Also called tetraplegia, quadriplegia is the paralysis of all four limbs and the torso, typically resulting from injuries to the upper spinal cord.
• Paraplegia: Paralysis that affects both legs and sometimes the lower torso, usually due to damage to the lower spinal cord.
• Hemiplegia: Hemiplegia results in paralysis on one side of the body, affecting the arm, leg, and sometimes the face on that side.
• Diplegia: Diplegia involves symmetrical paralysis, meaning the same body parts on both sides (such as both arms or both legs) are affected.
• Monoplegia: This type of paralysis impacts a single area of the body, typically one limb.

Spinal Cord Injury Treatment & Rehabilitation

Although your spinal cord injury may not be curable, various helpful treatments and therapies may be available. Your medical care provider is the expert who can develop a tailored treatment plan based on your unique condition and needs. Despite advancements in medical technology and treatment methods, not every patient will fully recover, even with the best possible care; your medical team may help you set realistic goals and expectations regarding outcomes.

Different types of treatments and rehabilitative care for spinal cord injuries include:

• Surgery: Depending on the nature and location of the injury, surgery might be used to remove or correct fragments of bones, foreign objects, herniated disks, or fractured vertebrae that appear to be compressing the spine. Surgery might also be necessary to stabilize the spine to prevent future pain or deformity.
• Medication: Certain medications can be used to manage symptoms of a spinal cord injury. For example, certain anti-inflammatory drugs might be used to reduce damage to nerve cells and decrease inflammation around the injury site.
• Physical therapy: Rehabilitative therapies involve the use of various techniques to improve physical functioning. Exercises to strengthen muscles, improve coordination, and increase endurance, as well as training in how to perform basic activities for daily living, are all common components of a comprehensive rehabilitation program.

Treatment for a spinal cord injury can be extremely costly, particularly when it spans months or even years. This financial burden underscores the importance of filing a claim if the injury was due to another’s negligence. Our Riverside spinal cord injury attorneys are available to step in and lead the way.

Life-Care Planning for Spinal Cord Injury Patients

Specialized life-care planning is often necessary for people who have suffered a spinal cord injury. A life-care plan typically involves a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach that takes into account a wide range of needs, from medical treatments and physical therapy to psychological support, assistive devices, home modifications, and vocational training. The goal is to enhance the patient’s quality of life, promote independence, and ensure their long-term health and well-being.

However, it’s important to note that life-care planning can be complex and involve a wide range of expenses, such as costs for ongoing care, specialized equipment, and home or vehicle modification. Potential costs should be factored into any spinal cord injury claim, so the amount of compensation pursued is reflective of not only the losses and suffering the plaintiff has already experienced, but also those they are likely to incur in the future as they learn to live with their disability. 

Vocational Rehabilitation Needs

Vocational rehabilitation can help people with spinal cord injuries regain, maintain, or improve their employment status after the injury has changed their abilities. Vocational rehabilitation may include job modifications and adaptive equipment that enable a person to return to the workplace. It may also involve comprehensive retraining for a new line of work that accommodates the limitations, or counseling to help the person cope with the emotional challenges of their changing capabilities and career prospects.

Compensation in Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim

Spinal cord injuries can lead to exorbitant, lifelong financial damages. The total cost of care for someone with paraplegia, including medical treatments, rehabilitation services, and lifestyle accommodations, often exceeds $1,800,000, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC). This figure doesn't even account for potential loss of income and employment opportunities. In such cases, pursuing a legal claim can be instrumental in securing the necessary funds to cover these costs and ensure a better quality of life after a life-altering injury.

Two important damage types that can be demanded through a spinal cord injury claim are:

• Economic damages: Also called special damages, economic damages refer to the tangible, out-of-pocket expenses related to the spinal cord injury. They include past and future medical expenses (such as surgeries, medication, physical therapy, and any necessary medical equipment), lost wages, loss of earning potential if the individual is unable to work or can only work in a limited capacity, and costs associated with modifications to the home or vehicle to accommodate the individual's disability.
• Non-economic damages: Also called general damages, non-economic damages refer to the intangible losses experienced by the spinal cord injury survivor. They include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium (the deprivation of the benefits of a family relationship due to injuries).

Leave Your Case to Our Lawyers – Call Now

If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, our award-winning attorneys at Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP are available to review your case and discuss whether you may have grounds to pursue a claim. 

Because injury claims require time to construct, and because there is a legal deadline in place known as the statute of limitations, we encourage anyone with a potential case to reach out to our team as soon as possible. Our trusted Riverside spinal cord injury lawyers serve clients across Southern California and beyond, and are readily available to take your call. 

Put legal fighters in your corner. Call (866) 634-4525 to schedule a free consultation with our firm.

Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP  – Where Success Is A Tradition®