Spinal Cord Injury Attorney in Dallas
The spinal cord is integral to all the body’s functions. It serves as the messaging system between the brain and the rest of the body. That’s why an injury to the spinal cord can be catastrophic, often leading to severe and permanent impairment.
If your spinal cord was damaged in an accident due to someone else’s negligence in Dallas, an experienced spinal cord injury lawyer at The Wilhite Law Firm is ready to help you demand justice and financial accountability.
One of the Best Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers in Dallas
Our Dallas lawyers have extensive experience with spinal cord injuries. We are committed to fighting for your rights and interests. You can count on us to handle all the details of preparing and pursuing your case before we tirelessly pursue the financial resources you need to get treatment and move on with your life.
After a severe accident in your spinal cord, you should not try to take on the insurance company on your own. Instead, let our team of skilled Dallas spinal cord injury lawyers fight for you. Call or reach us online today for a free consultation.
When Can You File a Lawsuit After a Spinal Cord Injury?
If your spinal cord was damaged in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, Texas law allows you to seek compensation from the at-fault party. But how do you know if you are eligible to file a lawsuit?
You might have a valid claim if the accident and your injuries would not have occurred if the at-fault party had acted with more care and caution. If someone failed to act responsibly and caused you harm, you might have a legal claim for compensation. A viable lawsuit would also require you to show that you have incurred or are expected to incur losses due to the injury you suffered. Contact our nearby spinal cord injury attorneys today.
In general, you should take immediate action after a severe injury accident that results in spinal cord damage. Many cases settle long before a lawsuit is necessary. However, you will want to give your attorney plenty of time to secure evidence, build a case, and negotiate for a settlement. If a fair settlement can’t be reached, your lawyer might recommend filing a lawsuit against the at-fault party.
What are the Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in Dallas?
Examples of accidents that could cause spinal cord injuries include:
What Types of Compensation Can You Recover in a Spinal Cord Injury Claim?
If you suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident that was someone else’s fault, you might have a spinal cord injury claim. In a spinal cord injury claim, you could be entitled to compensation for losses that you suffer due to your injury, such as:
- Medical treatment, including emergency room care, surgeries, hospital stays, medications, physical and occupational therapy, and purchases of medical and mobility equipment like wheelchairs
- Long-term care for disabilities that result from a spinal cord injury, such as home health care and home renovations to install accommodations for disabilities
- Loss of income after missing time from work while recovering and rehabilitating after suffering a spinal cord injury
- Loss of future earning capacity and employment benefits when disabilities prevent you from going back to work
- Pain and suffering, including anxiety and depression resulting from your injuries
- Loss of enjoyment and quality of life due to loss of independence, inability to participate in activities you previously enjoyed, and embarrassment and humiliation due to your injury and the resulting disability
What are the Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury?
Immediately after being involved in an accident, symptoms that indicate that an accident victim may have suffered a spinal cord injury include:
- Extreme pain and pressure in the back, neck, and head
- Weakness, loss of motor control, and paralysis
- Loss of balance and difficulty walking
- Numbness, tingling, and loss of sensation in the hands and feet
- Impaired and labored breathing
- Loss of bladder and bowel control
- Odd twisting and positioning of the neck and back
Longer-term, a spinal cord injury will cause symptoms, such as:
- Loss of movement and paralysis
- Spasming and exaggerated reflexes
- Altered sensation and loss of sensation
- Loss of bladder and bowel control
- Loss of sexual function, sensitivity, and fertility
- Difficulty with breathing and clearing the throat and lungs
- Chronic, intense pain and stinging sensations
What You Can Expect with Treatment for a Spinal Cord Injury?
Unfortunately, a spinal cord injury cannot be repaired through surgery. Instead, treatment for a spinal cord injury focuses on preventing further damage in the early stages. Later, treatment turns out to enable injury victims to resume an active and independent life to the furthest extent possible.
Immediately after an accident, spinal cord injury treatment will include:
- Immobilization of the spine, including with neck and back braces or with traction devices
- Medications and other procedures to reduce damaging inflammation around the spinal cord
- Surgery to repair discs and vertebrae and remove bone fragments and other objects, and install hardware to stabilize the spinal column
Once a patient’s injury stabilizes, treatment involves rehabilitation and preventing complications. It may include:
- Medications to reduce complications, including muscle loss, spasms, bowel and bladder issues, respiratory infections, and blood clots, and to restore lost bodily functions, such as sexual function
- Physical and occupational therapy, which maintain and strengthen remaining muscle function, redevelop fine motor skills, and learn adaptations to continue independently performing daily tasks
- Emotional therapy to help process the trauma of the injury and learn how to resume normal life
How a Spinal Cord Injury Can Forever Change a Person’s Life
Depending on the severity of the spinal cord injury, some injured victims may make a substantial recovery of their physical ability. However, most spinal cord injuries leave victims with permanent paralysis and disability. Although many people who suffer permanent effects from a spinal cord injury go on to resume productive, fulfilling lives, they do so with changes to their life. Get in touch with our Dallas back injury lawyer today.
For example, a spinal cord injury victim may require a wheelchair due to paralysis. That can seriously impact an injury victim’s ability to maintain their independence and stay active. Disabling conditions resulting from a spinal cord injury could also make it difficult or impossible to work, especially if you work in a job that involves physical tasks. In addition to the financial burdens imposed by the costs of medical care, rehabilitation, and long-term care, a spinal cord injury can lead to the loss of income and earning ability. Contact a Dallas personal injury lawyer at The Wilhite Firm today.
What are the Types of Spinal Cord Injuries in Dallas?
Types of spinal cord injuries that a person can suffer in an accident include:
- Complete spinal cord injuries – These injuries involve the complete severing of the spinal cord. Such an injury eliminates the ability of the brain to send signals to parts of the body below the level of the spinal cord injury, resulting in paralysis.
- Incomplete spinal cord injuries – These involve a partial compromise of the spinal cord and varying degrees of interference with the brain’s ability to send signals down the spinal cord and to the different parts of the body.
- Anterior cord injuries – These injuries involve damage to the front of the spinal cord and typically affect motor skills.
- Central cord injuries – These injuries involve damage to the nerves in the center of the spinal cord. A victim can suffer the loss of fine motor skills, partial paralysis of arms and legs, and loss of bladder and bowel control and sexual function.
- Brown-Sequard syndrome – This condition involves an injury to one side of the spinal cord, which produces disabling effects on that side of the body.
- Paraplegia – This is paralysis of the legs and lower half of the body.
- Tetraplegia (quadriplegia) – This is paralysis of the arms and legs as well as the torso and chest.
What Is the Time Limit for Filing a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit in Texas?
The Texas statute of limitations sets a deadline for filing a lawsuit to seek compensation for a spinal cord injury suffered in an accident. Typically, you have only two years from the date you were injured to file suit against the parties who caused your injury.
If you file a spinal cord injury lawsuit after the statute of limitations has expired on your claim, the court will dismiss your case. That’s why it’s crucial to take immediate action after being injured. The clock starts ticking on your injury claim when your accident occurs. So, it is essential not to wait until it is too late to take legal action. Contact our Dallas spinal cord injury lawyers today.
Talk to a Dallas Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer Today
Did you suffer a spinal cord injury in Dallas? Are you dealing with costly medical bills, disabling conditions, and other losses due to your injury? You don’t have to go through this challenging time alone. Our Dallas personal injury lawyers handle cases like yours every day. We can manage all the details of your claim, taking that pressure off you.
Get started today. Contact The Wilhite Law Firm for a free consultation. Spinal cord injury lawyer near me.