Florida Spinal Cord Accident and Injury Information

    The U.S. Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Center provide information and resources for individuals and
    families affected by spinal cord and other catastrophic injuries. With offices in Jacksonville and
    Orlando, the center's attorneys represent spinal cord injury victims and their families throughout
    Florida and the United States. The following provides general information about spinal
    cord injuries. If you wish to schedule a free consultation to discuss your legal case with a lawyer,
    contact the U.S. Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Law Center.

    Spinal Cord Injuries - An Overview
    A spinal cord injury (SCI) is an injury to the spinal cord resulting in varying degrees of loss of
    function and paralysis, depending on which part of the spine was injured and the severity of the
    injury. The injury can occur from a traumatic event, such as a motor vehicle accident, or from illness
    or disease. Over 250,000 people in the United States currently live with a spinal cord injury.

    Every year in the US, there are between 10,000 and 12,000 new spinal cord injuries. Of these, over
    80% are suffered by young males 16-30 years old. The most common causes of spinal cord
    injuries are:
    •        Motor vehicle accidents
    •        Deliberate acts of violence (stabbings, shootings)
    •        Falls
    •        Sports-related accidents (diving, skiing, contact sports)

    The severity of the spinal cord injury depends on where the injury occurred. The spine is separated
    into five parts from top to bottom, with each part controlling different bodily functions:
    •        Cervical vertebrae (neck) - controls back of the head, neck, shoulders, arms, hands,
    diaphragm
    •        Thoracic vertebrae (upper back) - controls chest muscles, some back muscles, parts of the
    abdomen
    •        Lumbar vertebrae (middle back) - controls lower abdomen, lower back, buttocks, some parts
    of            the legs, some parts of the external genital organs
    •        Sacral vertebrae (hips) - controls thighs, lower parts of legs, feet, most of the external genital
    organs
    •        Coccygeal vertebrae (tailbone) - controls sensation from the skin on the lower back

    Spinal cord injuries can be complete or incomplete. A complete spinal cord injury means that the
    spinal cord is unable to receive and send messages to the brain past the level of injury on the
    spine. An incomplete injury means that the spine still is able to receive and send some messages
    from the brain past the level of injury.

    Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries
    At this time, the treatment options for spinal cord injuries are limited. If the injury resulted in a
    fracture to the vertebrae protecting the cord, surgery may be performed to correct the fracture and
    relieve the compression on the spine. After surgery, some function may be recovered. There is not
    a current surgical option that will recover all function lost due to SCI.

    Rehabilitation is the main cornerstone of treatment designed to help the injured person retain as
    much function as possible. Rehab treatments may include working with a number of specialists,
    including physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, nutritionists, neurologists,
    psychologists and others. Rehab focuses on a range of issues, from preventing muscle atrophy to
    providing job training.

    Pursuing a Lawsuit
    Spinal cord injuries are some of the worst types of injuries suffered today. Not only do the victims
    suffer paralysis, but there are also many other health consequences from a SCI, including bowel
    and bladder problems, breathing difficulty, blood pressure and heart dysfunction, spasms, loss of
    reproductive and sexual function and increased risk of blood clots, bed sores and pneumonia.
    People with SCI generally also have a shorter life expectancy.
    If a spinal cord injury resulted because of another person's negligent acts, the injured person may
    want to consider taking legal action against the responsible party to recover damages. Depending
    on how the injury occurred, there are different types of lawsuits that may be filed:
    •        Personal injury lawsuit: if the injury resulted from an individual's negligence, like a car accident
    •        Medical malpractice: if the injury resulted from a surgical mistake or misdiagnosis
    •        Products liability: if the injury resulted from a defective product, like a seatbelt
    •        Premises liability: if the injury occurred on another person or entity's property
    An experienced attorney can determine which type of case is best to pursue according to the
    circumstances of your particular situation.
    Damages
    The types of compensation available in SCI cases vary depending on state law, but typically include:
    •        Loss of wages
    •        Loss of future earning capacity
    •        Medical expenses
    •        Future anticipated medical expenses
    •        Pain and suffering

    Conclusion
    A spinal cord injury impacts every aspect of a person's life. If you or someone you care about has
    been affected by a spinal cord injury, contact us for a consultation about your situation.
Education and Resources for those in Need: 888 651 5544
The U.S. Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Center serve families throughout Florida and the United States, including
Jacksonville, Orlando, Miami, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Gainesville, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Sarasota, Boca
Raton, Brandon, Naples, Cape Coral, Daytona Beach, St Petersburg, Pensacola, Panama City, Tallahassee, Palm
Beach, Miami Dade County, Duval County and Orange County.

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