Understanding Your Spinal Cord Injury Claim
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Spinal cord injuries can be life-altering events that leave victims with devastating physical and psychological impairment and disability. More than 85,500 Canadians live with some form of spinal cord injury, and another 4,259 people are injured each year through various types of mishaps, including car crashes, slip-and-fall accidents, and work-related accidents. Damage to the spinal cord can leave a victim with an assortment of mental and physical disorders ranging from chronic pain and discomfort to permanent disability and, in some cases, death. It is essential to understand the effects of a spinal cord injury and how to obtain the compensation you deserve for the impact it has on your life.
The structure of the spinal cord and spine
The spinal cord is a nerve bundle carrying signals between your body and brain. It runs down the middle portion of your back from the base of your skull to the lower tip of your spine. The spinal cord is surrounded by and encased in the center of the spine, which is made up of individual bone segments called “vertebrae” that protect it from injury.
The vertebrae of the spine are stacked atop each other and separated by cartilage disks that allow the spine to bend while cushioning the vertebrae to prevent them from making bone-to-bone contact with each other. The bony structure of the spine protecting the spinal cord is frequently referred to as the spinal column.
Injury to the spinal cord
If your hand comes in contact with a hot surface, a signal is transmitted through the nerves of the spinal cord from your hand to your brain. Your brain instantaneously processes the information and sends signals, again through the spinal cord, causing you to feel pain and remove your hand from the hot surface.
A serious car accident or a fall from a ladder or other elevated surface can damage the spinal column and cause an injury to nerves of the spinal cord. An injury to the nerves of the spinal cord can interfere with their ability to transmit signals between the various parts of the body and the brain. The result could be paralysis as the signals from the brain cannot get through to other parts of the body.
The location of the damage to the spinal cord affects different parts of the body and determines what impact the injury has on the person. For example, an injury to the cervical portion of the spinal column, which is located in the neck are, could affect movement in your arms, legs and torso while also impairing functioning of your bladder and other internal organs. If the injury is close to the brain stem, it could affect a victim’s ability to breathe and lead to death.
Causes of spinal cord injuries
Common causes of injuries to the spinal cord include the following:
- Motor vehicle collisions
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Falls from ladders and other elevated surfaces, including scaffolding
- Sports-related injuries, including contact sports
- Intentional conduct, including assaults
Treatment and recovery from a spinal cord injury can be a slow, long-term process that could require surgery and rehabilitation.
Ontario spinal cord injury lawyers
If an accident caused by the negligence of another party results in an injury to your spinal cord, you could be entitled to compensation. The personal injury lawyers at Diamond and Diamond have years of experience successfully handling claims for compensation on behalf of accident victims throughout Ontario. Call the Diamond and Diamond 24/7 injury hotline at 1-800-567-HURT or visit our website to speak to someone now. We have offices located throughout Ontario offering free consultations and case evaluations to injury victims and their families.