Connecticut Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers

The spinal cord consists of a bundle of nerve fibers that connects almost every part of the body to the brain, which together forms the central nervous system. Essentially, the spinal cord acts a delivery highway system that relays nerve “messages” back and forth from body parts to the brain. The messages contain the sensory and motor information that allows us to walk, talk, and move.

Any degree of damage or trauma to the spinal cord disrupts the nerve delivery system and interferes with the body’s ability to send and receive messages to the brain. As a result, a person may suffer a number of temporary or permanent disabilities ranging from sore joints to complete paralysis. A knowledgeable Connecticut spinal cord injury lawyer is helpful for a victim to understand his situation.

What are the Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries?

Any type of blow or significant impact to one or more vertebrae (the small bones that together form a person’s backbone) can damage the spinal cord. Essentially, because vertebrae encapsulate and protect the spinal cord, any type of vertebral fracture or dislocation may damage spinal cord tissue, compress nerves, and in the worst cases, completely sever the spinal cord.

Leading causes of spinal cord injuries include the following:

• Motor vehicle collisions (which account for almost 50% of spinal cord injuries)
• Workplace accidents
• Sporting and recreational activities
• Slip and falls
• Acts of violence (e.g., gunshot wounds)
• Medical malpractice

Not surprisingly, spinal cord injuries are most common in young adults and males.

We May Be Able To Help

If you were in an accident that caused injuries to your spinal cord, you should seek the advice of experienced Connecticut spinal cord injury attorneys as soon as possible – especially if you believe someone’s negligence caused the accident. Our malpractice lawyers have extensive experience representing individuals whose spinal cord injuries were caused by the negligence or intentional harm of another person or company.

Effects of Spinal Cord Injuries

The effects of a spinal cord injury depend on the force and site of impact.

• If a person suffers an “incomplete spinal cord injury,” the spinal cord is compressed and damaged, but it is still able to relay some signals from the brain to areas of the body below the injury. In these cases, individuals will still have some sensation and movement below the site of injury.

• A “complete spinal cord injury”, however, often results in paralysis because the spinal cord can no longer transmit nerve signals to parts of the body below the site of injury.

Primary Conditions

Spinal cord injuries may result in severe and sometimes permanent medical conditions and disabilities including the following:

• Complete body paralysis
• Paraplegia (total or partial paralysis of the legs and sometimes the torso)
• Quadriplegia (total or partial paralysis of both the legs and arms)
• Broken back
• Painful nerve compression
• Disk herniation
• Loss of bladder and/or bowel control
• Loss of sexual functioning
• Depression

Secondary Conditions

Many people with spinal cord injuries develop a number of secondary conditions that may include the following:

• Respiratory complications
• Urinary tract infections
• Muscle atrophy
• Pressure sores
• Muscle spasticity
• Scoliosis
• Depression and other mental health illnesses

Impacts on Quality of Life

Spinal cord injuries may have devastating, lifelong effects. If you suffered a spinal cord injury, your standard of living and quality of life may deteriorate. In the blink of an eye, you may no longer be able to complete day-to-day tasks, exercise, work, walk, or move.

If you are able to move the parts of your body below the site of injury, you likely will face weeks, months, or years of rehabilitative therapy so as to get your body back to the condition it was prior to the accident. You may need vocational training, special accommodations, psychological counseling, and more.

If you suffer paralysis as a result of a complete spinal cord injury, you likely will need all of the above services, but to a much higher degree. Additionally, you may need in-hospital care, nursing home care, a personal care attendant, a specially-equipped mode of transportation, home modifications, and more. And, you may need this care for the rest of your life.

The physical, emotional, psychological, and financial damages to you and your family may be insurmountable without the recovery and compensation you deserve. You need a reliable Connecticut spinal cord injury attorney to help you with your case.

A Successful Track Record Helping Victims of Spinal Cord Injuries Caused By Someone Else’s Negligence

****At Berkowitz Hanna, we do not and will never guarantee a financial recovery in your case, either through settlement or a court-ordered verdict.****

However, we are proud to acknowledge our experience and a successful track record in obtaining favorable outcomes for many of our Connecticut clients with spinal cord injuries caused by someone else’s fault, including but not limited to the following recoveries and awards:

• $900,000.00 settlement against a building owner on behalf of a 63-year-old male who sustained a spinal cord injury after falling down a defective staircase.
• $810,000.00 recovery on behalf of a high school student who sustained a fractured neck during an unsupervised, after school, off-season wrestling practice in the school’s gymnasium.
• $750,000.00 medical malpractice award to a client who sustained a permanent injury to his spinal cord during the improper insertion of a spinal stimulator by an orthopedic surgeon.
• $450,000.00 settlement on behalf of a police officer who ruptured two cervical discs in a car accident.
• $450,000.00 award to a plaintiff who sustained multiple herniated discs that necessitated surgery following a rear-end automobile accident.
• $325,000.00 award to a female who was forced to undergo back surgery following an automobile accident.
• $275,000.00 settlement for a 34-year-old female who sustained a hemicord injury as a result of a disputed intersection automobile accident.
• $250,000.00 award to a 33-year-old male who sustained a herniated disc to his back and underwent surgery following a rear-end car accident.
• $250,000.00 settlement to a male who sustained a herniated disc to his neck during a head-on collision.
• $250,000.00 settlement to a 41-year-old female who sustained a herniated disc to her neck as a result of an automobile accident.

Contact our Trusted Connecticut Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys to Discuss Your Case

If you or a family member has suffered a spinal cord injury, you know that the medical bills and other expenses can be staggering. Emergency room bills, treatment and rehabilitation costs, lost income, lost future income, the loss of a loved one’s companionship, and the emotional drain are just some of the damages that accompany a spinal cord injury. If negligence, recklessness, or intentional harm by another person or company contributed to or is the direct cause of your spinal cord injury, you may be eligible to recover financial compensation for your losses

You owe it to yourself and your family to discuss your case with a reputable, experienced attorney who specializes in representing clients with spinal cord injuries. Contact us to schedule a complimentary consultation with an experienced Connecticut spinal cord injury lawyer today.