Delaware Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys Working for Justice for Clients

Spinal cord injuries, whether they are caused by an auto accident, physical violence, or a sports injury, are horrible and can impact every aspect of the victim’s life. Since they are incurable, they can lead to a lifetime of medical care and astronomical bills. Due to these severe consequences and high costs, insurance companies may not be cooperative with victims and their families because they are a business trying to protect their bottom line. This is why it is so crucial to have a skilled law firm on your side that will fight to secure you the financial compensation you deserve for the proper medical treatment you need. The statute of limitations for a spinal cord injury claim is only two years from the date of the injury, so it is key to begin the process with a trusted lawyer as soon as you can. The compassionate lawyers at Hudson, Castle, & Inkell, LLC, can provide you with a free consultation. Call us today at 302-428-8800.

What Causes Spinal Cord Injuries?

Many people are familiar with the story of paraplegic actor Christopher Reeve, who injured his spine while riding a horse, but there are many other ways to develop a spinal cord injury. Any time direct trauma happens to the spinal cord, an injury can occur. Some common causes of spinal cord injuries include:

• Assault and battery
• ATV accidents
• Car accidents
• Crushing injuries
• Falls
• Gunshots, stab wounds, or other inflicted violence
• Injuries from impact sports
• Motorcycle accidents
• Swimming or diving injuries
• Workplace injuries

An injury to the spinal cord always requires emergency medical intervention. If a victim of this type of injury is moved incorrectly by a well-meaning bystander or if they do not get proper medical attention immediately, the injury can become even worse. Someone with a suspected spinal cord injury should be stabilized and not moved except by a medical professional. The only exception is if they are in immediate bodily danger. For example, if they need to be removed from a burning vehicle after a crash.

What Types of Injuries May Happen to the Spine?

Spine injuries are some of the most severe injuries a person can experience. There are two categories of spinal cord injuries: incomplete and complete. In an incomplete spinal cord injury, the victim still has functioning body parts located below the injury point. A complete spinal cord injury is one in which the injured party can no longer move anything below the part of the body that was affected. Incomplete injuries are more common than complete spinal cord injuries. Upwards of 60% of all injuries to the spinal cord are classified as incomplete. Two common types of incomplete spinal injuries are:

• Anterior Cord Syndrome: This injury is found at the spinal cord’s front. With this type of injury, the sensory pathways affecting pain and temperature sensation are often severed, and motor skills are generally damaged.
• Central Cord Syndrome: This type of injury is found at the spinal cord’s center and is almost always the result of blunt trauma from an accident. It causes damage to motor functions which is more pronounced in the upper extremities than the lower extremities, along with other effects such as bladder dysfunction.

Complete spinal cord injuries, thankfully, happen less often, but they are more severe. A couple of common types of complete spinal cord injuries that may result from an accident are:

• Tetraplegia (or quadriplegia): This is the inability to move both the upper and lower parts of the body. It includes all of the limbs and may or may not include the neck and head, depending on the location of the injury.
• Paraplegia: In paraplegia, the victim cannot move the lower parts of the body, including the legs and feet. It may sometimes include the abdomen.

How Much Compensation May Be Awarded for a Spinal Cord Injury?

Sadly, after it is damaged, the spinal cord does not heal. Therapy and rehabilitation may be used to improve symptoms, but there is no cure. This means spinal cord injuries are permanent and will often require lifelong care. This kind of care can cost hundreds of thousands to potentially millions of dollars. This can be a heavy financial burden on a family, especially since many victims of spinal cord injuries lose their ability to work after their accident. The injured person also may have a drastic decrease in their quality of life and the enjoyment they can derive from it.

Because every spinal cord injury case is unique, the amount of compensation awarded may vary based on the severity of your injuries, the financial losses you’ve experienced, and whether your injuries were the result of malicious or egregious actions. To get a clear estimate of the fair compensation you deserve for the injuries you’ve suffered, our medical malpractice lawyers seek to understand exactly how your particular spinal cord injury has impacted you and your family’s lives. We will get the opinions of medical professionals on the extent of your injuries and what long-term care may be required, and we will then work to quantify a fair and just amount of compensation for the harm that you have endured. We will assist you in getting all the benefits you qualify for, and we will seek compensation from the defendant for your medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, diminished quality of life, pain and suffering, mental anguish, long-term care expenses, and any other financial recompense to which you are entitled.

Why Hire a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney?

After you’ve had a spinal cord injury, you need a trusted law firm on your side to guide you. Hudson, Castle, & Inkell, LLC will thoroughly investigate the accident, explain your legal rights, and provide you with your best options for moving forward. Well-known and respected by their colleagues in the legal profession, our lawyers will work hard to achieve justice for you and your family. We want to ensure that you receive the medical treatment you need, the benefits you deserve, and fair financial compensation for your injuries.

If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury due to an accident, Hudson, Castle, & Inkell, LLC can help you. We will carefully examine the details of your claim, deal with the insurance companies, and work to hold those responsible for your injuries accountable. We understand that navigating life after a spinal injury is challenging, so we seek to make the legal process easier for you, beginning with a free consultation and continuing with the convenience of flexible appointments. We will charge you nothing unless we win or settle. Call Hudson, Castle, & Inkell, LLC, at 302-428-8800 today for a free injury consultation.