Denver Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers

What Are Different Kinds of Spinal Injuries?

Doctors classify spinal cord injuries based on severity, location, and the nature of the trauma. Common spinal cord injuries include:

• Cervical Spinal Cord Injury. This injury affects the neck and can have severe consequences due to the proximity to the brainstem. Injury to the cervical spine can lead to quadriplegia (Tetraplegia), or paralysis in all four limbs (arms and legs). Cervical injuries, especially those that affect the C3-C5 vertebrae, can also lead to problems with breathing.
• Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury. This injury affects the upper and middle back, and can result in paraplegia, or loss of mobility in the legs and lower body. Some patients may also have loss of trunk control, which can make balancing or sitting upright difficult. Thoracic injuries can also lead to bladder and bowel incontinence.
• Lumbar Spinal Cord Injury. This injury affects the lower back and can result in loss of sensation or control in the lower body. In addition to reduced mobility, patients may struggle with bladder, bowel, and sexual function.

In general, doctors classify all injuries as either complete injuries or incomplete SCIs. Complete spinal cord injuries result in total loss of sensation and function below the level of the injury, meaning no movement or sensation is preserved in the affected areas. An incomplete SCI injury, on the other hand, means that some nerve function is preserved below the level of the injury. Patients with incomplete injuries may have partial movement or sensation.

What Are the Causes of a Spinal Cord Injury?

In Colorado, spinal cord injuries can result from a variety of traumatic events, including:

• Traffic. Motor vehicle accidents are among the leading causes of spinal cord injuries in Colorado. Collisions, particularly high-speed crashes or those involving motorcycles or bicycles (where there are fewer layers or protection), can put extreme force on the spine, resulting in fractures or damage to the spinal cord.
• Falls. Slips, trips, and falls at home or on public property can cause significant trauma to the spine, particularly when individuals land on their backs or heads. For older adults, the risk of a fall leading to a spinal injury increases due to weakened bones and balance issues.
• Sports and Recreational Activities. Sports like football, skiing, snowboarding, and diving are high-risk activities when it comes to spinal cord injuries. Contact sports and activities that involve high speeds or the risk of falling can put extreme strain on the spine. In particular, diving into shallow water or sudden impacts during sports can lead to serious spinal damage.
• Workplace Accidents. Industrial and construction-related accidents are frequent causes of spinal injuries in Colorado. Workers in these industries often face falls, heavy machinery accidents, or even repetitive stress that can lead to spinal injuries.
• Violence. Spinal cord injuries can also be caused by violent incidents, including physical assaults, shootings, or stabbings.
• Medical Conditions. Though not as common, certain medical conditions and diseases can lead to spinal cord injuries. Conditions like cancer, infections, or spinal cord tumors can cause degeneration or damage to the spinal cord.

It’s important to understand the cause of your injury because when an SCI occurs due to the negligence or wrongdoing of another party—whether in a car accident, workplace incident, or public space—you can pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

What Are the Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury?

Spinal cord injuries present with a wide range of symptoms that depend on the location and severity of the injury. Common symptoms can include:

• Loss of sensation, which may include numbness, tingling, or the inability to feel touch, temperature, or pain.
• Partial or total loss of movement and function of part of the body.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Intense pain, especially in the back, neck, or spinal region. This can include a sharp, stabbing pain or a dull, aching sensation, especially immediately following the injury.
• Incontinence or an inability to urinate or defecate without assistance.
• Muscle spasms.
• Loss of fine motor skills, which can affect the ability to perform daily tasks like writing, dressing, or using a computer.
• Impaired temperature regulation, which can make it hard to stay warm or cool, which in turn can make individuals more susceptible to heatstroke, hypothermia, and other temperature-related health issues.
• A loss of sensation, reduced sexual desire, or the inability to engage in sexual activity.
• Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health conditions, each of which can have their own symptoms (such as mood swings, for example, or sleep disruption).

Every SCI and every patient are different, so experiences vary. Some people wake up after a severe car accident to find that they can’t move parts of their body. Other people develop chronic pain and muscle spasms that decrease over time. It’s important to work with specialists to get the appropriate treatment.

How Long Do I Have to Make a Claim?

If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury due to someone’s negligence in Denver, there are time limits, known as the statute of limitations, within which you must file a claim. In Colorado, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including those involving spinal cord injuries, is generally two years from the date of the accident or injury. If you fail to file within that time, you lose out on the chance to pursue compensation.

There are some exceptions. For example, if you did not realize at first that your injury was caused by negligence, the statute of limitations may begin from the date you discovered, or reasonably should have known, you may have had a claim. If your spinal cord injury was caused by the actions of a government entity, you may have just months to file a claim.

There may be additional exceptions, too, so it’s important to consult with a Denver spinal cord injury lawyer as soon as possible to make sure you don’t miss deadlines.

How Much Compensation Can I Get for a Spinal Cord Injury?

Spinal cord injuries often lead to long-term or permanent disabilities which require expensive medical care. Fortunately, in Colorado, victims of spinal cord injuries caused by negligence may be entitled to compensation, including financial recovery for:

• Medical expenses, including surgeries, visits with specialists, ongoing medical care, and expected future medical costs.
• Ongoing treatments, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health care, and personal care assistance, as well as expected future costs related to these supports.
• Specialized equipment such as wheelchairs, mobility devices, or home modifications for accessibility.
• Lost wages, if you cannot work because of your injuries.
• Any future earning potential that may be impacted due to the injury.
• Physical discomfort, the emotional toll of living with a disability, and the impact of the injury on your overall quality of life.
• Loss of companionship, intimacy, and support caused by the injury (this is often referred to as “loss of consortium”).
• Punitive damages, if your injuries were caused by someone’s malicious action or very severe negligence.

It’s important to get fair compensation for all losses and to pursue all liable parties for fair financial recovery. This ensures you don’t run out of money a few years after your injury, when you won’t have further options to pursue more compensation.

It’s especially important to get fair compensation because the costs of care will only go up. If new treatments are developed in coming years, they will cost more than the treatments today. When new, better models of wheelchairs are released, they will cost more than current models, and inflation will push the cost of all personal and medical care up. Getting fair compensation now ensures you’re ready for life with a permanent medical condition.

Find out how to get fair compensation for your injury by calling Flaxman Law Group at 970-999-0530. If you’re injured, schedule a free consultation to discuss your situation.

What Is Considered a Serious Brain Injury?

A serious brain injury is generally one that causes significant disruption in brain function, leading to long-term or permanent physical, cognitive, or emotional effects. Serious brain injuries include any injury where there is tissue damage to the brain or swelling.  DAI, coup-contrecoup injury, anoxic injury, penetrating brain injuries, and hematomas are all life-threatening.

Serious brain injuries often require immediate medical intervention, and the recovery process can be lengthy. One challenge with serious brain injuries is that they can leave you vulnerable to secondary brain injuries. If you suffer a concussion, for example, and hit your head again before the concussion heals, you may face a more devastating brain injury because you now have an injury on top of an injury.