The spinal cord sends messages to and from the brain so your neck, back, and spine can move, turn, and sense pain. When accidents damage any part of the spinal cord, a victim’s life is never the same. Spinal cord injury victims may never walk or work again. Most live with unbearable pain, loss of function, and constant anxiety and stress.
At Telaré Law, our lawyers understand your fears. For 25 years, we’ve devoted our practice solely to fighting for personal injury victims in Richland, the Tri-Cities, and across Southeast Washington. Our lawyers are admired for our ability to show why accidents occurred, and who should be held liable for your injuries. We work with your medical team and our own network of healthcare providers to show just how traumatic and financially burdensome your spinal cord injury (SCI) is. Our lawyers prepare each spinal cord injury victim for trial. We only recommend settlements when adjusters make offers that compensate you justly for your claim.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine (a prestigious medical research university in Maryland), an acute spinal cord injury is a traumatic injury “that bruises, partially tears, or completely tears the spinal cord.” The spinal cord is the part of your anatomy that runs through a canal in the center of your vertebrae (bones). The spinal cord is the set of nerves that carry messages to and from your brain.
Some of the many types of accidents that cause spinal cord injuries in and near Richland include:
Other accidents that may cause spinal cord injuries include recreational and sporting accidents, nursing home abuse or neglect, acts of violence, pedestrian accidents, and bicycle accidents.
According to Johns Hopkins, a spinal cord injury is a medical emergency. ER doctors will conduct a physical exam, an oral exam, and order several diagnostic tests. Surgery may be necessary to stabilize the spinal cord.
Possible diagnostic tests include:
Your doctor may also order blood tests.
The symptoms and severity of an SCI vary depending on the part of the body that is affected and the extent of the injury. Initially, accident victims in the Tri-Cities may lose feeling, muscle movement, and reflexes in the affected part of the body. The symptoms may ease as the swelling goes down.
SCIs in the neck area are generally the most severe. If the first and second vertebrae in the spinal column (C1 and C2), the mid-cervical vertebrae (C3, C4, and C5), or the neck are injured – the victim’s ability to breathe and his or her respiratory system may be affected. Lower back injuries may affect the use of the victim’s legs, bowel, bladder, and sexual function.
A few key terms are:
Common SCI symptoms include:
Victims may have other injuries such as head trauma that also need to be treated.
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are a number of potential complications for SCI victims:
SCI victims often require emotional help in addition to help for their physical injuries.
John Hopkins states that an acute SCI requires emergency medical care at the accident scene to immobilize your neck and head. The types of treatments vary depending on your age, medical history, current health, the type of SCI, your response to initial treatments, the severity of the SCI, and your personal treatment preferences.
A spinal cord injury cannot be repaired. There is much current research on ways to stimulate spinal cord regeneration.
The treatments generally include:
SCI victims in Southeast Washington may also need a bladder catheter and a feeding tube.
Most spinal cord injury victims require long-term hospitalization and rehabilitation. The medical care, which is very expensive, includes treatments with some or all of the following:
Patients may also need to consult with psychologists. Some patients may need medications to cope with their physical and emotional pain.
Spinal cord injury care usually requires continual care with doctors, therapists, and other healthcare professionals. We work with your doctors and our team to fully understand the severity of your injuries. We don’t start negotiations until the extent of your treatments, financial losses, and daily living difficulties are clear, and we’re ready for trial if that’s what’s best for you.
At Telaré Law, we demand compensation for your long-term medical care and your income losses from the date of the accident through the rest of your life. Our Richland personal injury lawyers also demand compensation for your physical pain and emotional suffering and loss of consortium damages. In addition, we seek payment because you have a permanent disability. If your loved one dies from his or her injuries, we can file a wrongful death claim/survival action on your behalf.
We document all your verifiable financial losses. We prepare you and your family so that we can teach a jury just how much your SCI affects your life. We work with physicians who are skilled at completing medical reports and testifying in court.
We are skilled trial lawyers. Due to our record of success in court, insurance companies do negotiate with us in good faith. Team Telaré is right here at home, and we’re ready to help.
Telaré Law advises SCI victims at our Richland office located at 1321 Columbia Park Trail, Suite B, Richland, WA. We also meet clients at our Kennewick office. Since many spinal cord injury victims cannot move, we often meet with SCI clients at their homes, hospitals, or a rehabilitation center.
Spinal cord injuries are catastrophic injuries. Accident victims need to learn to live with their injuries for the rest of their life. Numerous complications may arise. You need a team that has the experience and reputation to hold responsible defendants liable for all your damages. Call the Richland spinal cord injury lawyers of Telaré Law at (509)-737-8500 or use our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We proudly fight for accident victims in and around Richland, Pasco, Walla Walla, Pullman, Othello, Moses Lake, Ritzville, and throughout Southeast Washington.