Our spinal cords are one of the most important parts of our bodies. It helps us walk, work, move, exercise, and any number of the daily activities that we love to do each day. But our spines are also extremely vulnerable to injuries. From car accidents to slip and falls, there are numerous daily activities that can lead to an injured spinal cord. And when the cause of an injury was due to someone else’s negligence, they should be held responsible.
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), there are over 17,700 new spinal cord injury cases each year, not including the number of deaths that occur at the location of the accident. Additionally, there are over 290,000 people living in the United States living with a spinal cord injury.
Anyone can be a victim of a spinal cord injury, however, the NSCISC found that the average age for victims is approximately 42 years old. In addition, 78% of new spinal cord injuries occur in males, and most of these injuries were caused by vehicle accidents and slip and falls.
Were you involved in an accident in Hialeah that resulted in a spinal cord injury? Do you suspect someone else is responsible for your injuries? A spinal injury lawyer in Hialeah can help. With years of knowledge dealing with these types of cases, the Hialeah spinal cord injury lawyers at Schlacter Law will work hard to get you the compensation you need following a spinal cord injury.
There are several causes of spinal cord injuries. These types of injuries can vary from minor swelling and inflammation to serious debilitations such as paralysis. While there are non-traumatic events that can cause spinal cord injuries, such as cancer and other diseases, a large number of these types of injuries are caused by traumatic events, such as:
Car and other vehicle accidents Slip and fall accidents Assaults and domestic violence Defective products Medical malpractice Construction and worksite accidentsCar and other vehicle accidents are the leading cause of most spinal cord injuries in Hialeah. When two or more vehicles collide, the energy released in an accident can cause serious damage to both the vehicles, and the occupants inside. Sudden impacts on the upper and lower back can cause serious traumatic harm to the spinal cords of both passengers and drivers, resulting in serious damage or even paralysis. Vehicle rollovers can also cause serious flexing of the spine, and crushed vehicles can seriously compress the back and injure the spine. When someone else was the cause of an accident, they may be responsible for these resulting injuries.
Slip and fall accidents are the second leading cause of spinal injuries in Hialeah. Slip and falls can happen almost anywhere. Often, they occur due to a property owner’s failure to properly protect visitors on their property from dangers or hazards. The duty owed to a visitor on a property varies based on their classification at the time they were on the property. There are three classifications for visitors, and they include invitee, licensee, and trespasser. Invitees and licensees are afforded a duty to protect them from known and some unknown hazards. Even trespassers are protected from intentional harm. If someone’s failure to keep their property safe resulted in a slip and fall and that slip or fall resulted in a spinal cord injury, the property owner may be responsible for that injury.
Assaults and domestic violence can also cause serious spinal cord injuries. Any impact to the spine can cause trauma and result in a serious injury. When these injuries result following an assault, the assailant may be subject not only to criminal charges but may be financially responsible for the costs associated with the injury. In spinal cord injuries, this could include not only the cost of medical bills and lost income, but might also include the pain and suffering and emotional stress that resulted from the assault.
Defective products generally fall into one of three different types of defects. These include design defects, manufacturing defects, and marketing defects. Any one of these defects can lead to a serious injury. When these types of injuries occur, the manufacturer of the product can be liable for the injuries and be responsible for the compensation necessary to make a victim whole again. Determining when a manufacturer is liable for a defect that resulted in an injury would require the help of a spinal cord injury attorney.
With thousands of medical procedures each year it’s not uncommon for errors to occur, and these errors can create injuries to the spine. According to the NSCISC, 4.6% of all spinal cord injuries were a result of a failed medical procedure. Simply being injured during a medical procedure does not automatically rise to the level of malpractice. In general, negligence is established if a doctor failed to give the same care other doctors in the same field would have given under the same or similar circumstances. If the care provided in a medical procedure failed to rise to this same care and a spinal cord injury occurred, there may be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Construction and other workplace accidents are also common causes of spine injuries. Slip and fall accidents, machinery accidents, and all other types of accidents may occur when an employer fails to keep a workplace safe for their employees. Compensation can often come from workers’ compensation claims, and in cases of spinal cord injuries, these payments might continue for months or years. In cases where a third party was responsible for the workplace accident, a lawsuit may be possible to seek compensation for an injury to the spinal cord.
Regardless of the cause, back injuries can be expensive and cause a serious financial toll on a victim. Medical bills can be overwhelming, and these types of injuries often require ongoing and long-term medical care and rehabilitation. If the injury is serious enough, some victims may never walk again or enjoy the quality of life they had before the injury. In addition to long-term medical care, the costs of these injuries might also include pain and suffering, and emotional stress.
Some of these costs can be difficult to determine. Understanding the long-term and short-term costs requires an understanding of the seriousness of the injury. Seeking proper compensation also includes identifying the responsible party or parties. A spinal injury attorney can help. With the experience necessary to get you the compensation you deserve, the spinal cord injury lawyers at Schlacter Law will be sure to work with your best interests in mind and get you the financial help you need. Call us today for a consultation.
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